OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of serum glutathione S-transferase (GST) and urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as the monitoring biomarkers for coke oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

METHODS47 male coke oven workers and 31 male control workers were investigated. Urinary 8-OHdG and serum GST were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection and test kit. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as internal exposure of PAHs was also determined simultaneously by alkaline hydrolysis and HPLC.

RESULTSThe values of urinary 1-OHP, serum GST and urinary 8-OHdG were reported as median with interquartile range (P(25)-P(75)). Urinary 1-OHP [5.7 (1.4-12.0) micromol/mol Cr], serum GST [22.1 (14.9-31.2) U/ml], and urinary 8-OHdG [1.9 (1.4-15.4) micromol/mol Cr] in coke oven workers were significantly higher than in control workers [3.0 (0.5-6.4) micromol/mol Cr (P < 0.05), 13.1 (9.5-16.7) U/ml (P < 0.01), and 1.3 (1.0-4.0) micromol/mol Cr (P < 0.05) respectively]. Categorizing by smoking status, significant differences in urinary 1-OHP and serum GST were found only in smokers among coke oven workers compared to control workers (P < 0.01), and 8-OHdG levels only in non-smokers (P < 0.01). Additionally, there was significant correlation between urinary 1-OHP and serum GST activity (r(s) = 0.31, P < 0.01, n = 78). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that coke oven workers were at the higher risk of having GST activities above 16.7 U/ml (OR = 13.2) and 8-OHdG levels above 1.8 micromol/mol creatinine (OR = 4.4). High body mass index was an independent factor to affect urinary 8-OHdG levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe elevated serum GST activities and increased oxidative DNA damage were found in the coke oven workers. Occupational exposure and smoking interact on each other. Serum GST may be used as a biomarker for assessing the exposure of PAHs. Assay of urinary 8-OHdG may be useful for evaluating the risk of lung cancer in coke oven workers.