This study deals with the serious pollution of Seoul's ambient air and extends a warning regarding its adverse effects on human health. The collected dust samples exceeded the legal standard (15O microgram/m3 of total suspended particulates) of ambient air quality. Fine particles, with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometer comprised on the average 75.4 percent of the total suspended particulates (TSP). The amount of ether extractable organic matter (EEOM) of the fine particles was found to range from 3.6 to 7.1 percent. Neutral, acidic and basic organics were fractionated. In the neutral fraction, aliphatic compounds (ALP), polyaromatic hydrocarbons0 (PAH), and polar neutral organic compounds (POCN) comprised 23.1, 37.8 and 39.1 percent, respectively. Mutagenic activities of the organic fractions were determined by Ames bioassay. PAH showed the most mutagenicity using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain and TA98NR(nitro-reductase activity deficient stain) in the presence of S-9 fractions.
Dust/analysis* ; Human ; Korea ; Mutagenicity Tests* ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons/analysis*

Objective: To study the pathological types of lung cancer caused by coke oven emissions and analyze the correlation between different exposure levels. Methods: In October 2020, the relevant data of 86 confirmed cases of lung cancer caused by coke oven emissions (including basic information of patients, relevant occupational exposure and clinical data) were collected, The workers were grouped according to the different COEs concentrations in their posts: workers in auxiliary posts were taken as the low exposure group (11 persons) , The workers at coke side and furnace bottom are the medium exposure group (14 persons) , and the workers at furnace top are the high exposure group (61 persons) , and the correlation between pathological types of lung cancer and different exposure levels was analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in age and length of service among the groups (P>0.05) ; The number of lung cancer cases and pathological types among workers in each group were statistically significant (P=0.044) . After adjusting for interference factors, the number of undifferentiated cancers (mainly small cell lung cancer) increased with the increase of exposure level, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.001) . The incidence of lung cancer increased gradually with the length of service, and the incidence rate of lung cancer among workers of different working ages was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Undifferentiated small cell carcinoma is the most common pathological type of lung cancer caused by coke oven emissions, and the incidence of lung cancer tends to increase with the length of service.
Humans ; Coke/analysis* ; Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis* ; Pyrenes/analysis*

Objective: To investigate the relationship of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) activity and long noncoding RNA H19 gene expression in the urine of coke oven workers. Methods: In September 2019, in a coking plant in Taiyuan City, 146 male workers who had worked in coke oven operations for one year were selected through a completely random sampling method, and their basic personal information was collected by questionnaire survey, and blood and urine samples were collected. The levels of 4 PAHs metabolites 2-hydroxfluorene (2-FLU), 2- hydroxynaphthalene (2-NAP), 9-hydroxyphenanthren (9-PHE), and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urine were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) -fluorescence detection method. HPLC-UV detection method was used to detect the content of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) in plasma, and the SAHH activity value was obtained by calculating the ratio. Reverse transcription PCR method was used to determine the H19 gene expression level. Urine levels of 2-FLU, 2-NAP, 9-PHE, and 1-OHP were divided into Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), and Q(4) groups according to quartiles (P(25), P(50), P(75)). Regression, trend test and restricted cubic splines were used to analyze the relationship among PAHs metabolites, SAHH activity, H19 gene expression and their dose-response. Results: The median age of coke oven workers was 39.60 years old, the median length of service was 20.38 years, and the urinary levels of 2-FLU, 2-NAP, 9- PHE, and 1-OHP were 0.29, 0.74, 0.09, and 0.06 μg/mmol Cr, respectively. The levels of 2-FLU, 2-NAP and 9-PHE in the urine of workers were significantly different between groups with different 1-OHP levels (P<0.05). After adjusting for age, length of service, smoking, drinking, and levels of 2-FLU, 2-NAP and 9-PHE, SAHH activity decreased with the increase of urinary 1-OHP level (OR=0.63, 95%CI: 0.41-0.98, P=0.038), showing a nonlinear relationship (P(nonlinear)= 0.030). H19 gene expression increased with the increase of urinary 1- OHP level (OR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.03-2.19, P=0.033), there was a linear relationship (P(trend)= 0.058). The relationship between the other three metabolites in urine and SAHH activity and H19 gene expression was not statistically significant (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Urinary 1-OHP level may be a risk factor for decreased SAHH activity and increased H19 gene expression in coke oven workers.
Humans ; Adult ; Coke/analysis* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Pyrenes/analysis* ; Smoking/urine*

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; Workplace

Atmosphere ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

To investigate the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the changes of rhizosphere microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil of Leymus chinensis during the remediation of PAHs contaminated soil by Comamonas testosteroni (C.t)-assisted Leymus chinensis, we evaluated the removal of PAHs in the rhizosphere of Leymus chinensis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), analyzed the bacterial community and the diversity in Leymus chinensis rhizosphere soil by high-throughput sequencing technology, characterized the correlation among PAHs degradation and bacterial community components performing redundancy analysis (RDA) and network analysis, and predicted PAHs degradation potential via PICRUSt software in this paper. The degradation of PAHs in the rhizosphere of Leymus chinensis was promoted, the abundance and diversity of bacteria and the correlation among bacteria and PAHs were changed, and the degradation potential of PAHs in Leymus chinensis rhizosphere soil was enhanced in the later stage of phytoremediation (60-120 d) due to the incorporation of C.t. The accelerated degradation of three PAHs (Nap, Phe, BaP) was accompanied by the differ abundance and correlation of Proteobacteria (Sphingomonas, MND1, Nordella), Actinomycetes (Rubrobacter, Gaiella), Acidobacteria (RB41) and Bacteroides (Flavobacterium) affected by C.t. The results provide new insight into the microorganism choices for microbial assisted plant remediation of soil PAHs and the mechanisms of enhanced PAHs degradation via the combination of Comamonas testosteroni engineering bacteria and plants.
Biodegradation, Environmental ; Comamonas testosteroni/genetics* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis* ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants

Objective: To learn the investigate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to explore the association between PAHs exposure and oxidative stress' neurotransmitter levels in coal miners. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 652 coal miners (239 in the underground first line group, 280 in the underground auxiliary group and 133 in the surface group) from April to June 2017. The levels of urinary monohydroxy PAHs metabolites (OH-PAHs) , oxidative stress and neurotransmitters in blood were determined. A linear regression model was used to evaluate the correlation between OH-PAHs and oxidative stress' neurotransmitter levels. The mediating role of oxidative stress between urinary OH-PAHs and neurotransmitters change was assessed by mediation analysis. Results: The levels of 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-NAP) 、2-hydroxy uorene (2-FLU) 、1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urine OH-PAHs of coal miners in different workplaces were significantly different (H=33.64, 9.63, 26.82, P<0.01, =0.008, <0.01) . The levels of neurotransmitters [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) , norepinephrine (NE) , epinephrine (E) , dopamine (DA) , acetylcholine (Ach) , acetylcholinesterase (AChE) ] and oxidative stress [malondialdehyde (MDA) (F=36.81, 15.58, 79.16, 179.58, 33.48, 67.63, 4.96, P<0.01) ] in the blood of three groups of coal miners were significantly different. After controlling the potential confounding factors, NE content was negatively correlated with 2-FLU level, and AChE activity was also negatively correlated with 1-OHP level (β=-134.99, 95% CI: -250.74~-19.23, P=0.02; β=-0.80, 95%CI: -1.54~-0.05, P=0.036) . Positive correlation was found between Ach content and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-PHE) level, AChE activity was also positively correlated with 2-NAP level and 9-PHE level (β=0.96, 95%CI: 0.26~1.64, P=0.007; β=1.78, 95%CI: 0.75~2.82, P=0.001; β=0.77, 95%CI: 0.07~1.47, P=0.031) . In addition, superoxide dismutase activity was correlated with 1-OHP level and AChE activity (β=0.32, 95%CI: 0.02~0.62, P=0.034; β=-0.23, 95%CI: -0.43~-0.02, P=0.032) . Mediation analysis indicated that 1-OHP level may directly affect AChE activity (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The level of PAHs in underground coal miners is relatively higher, and may lead to changes of neurotransmitter levels. The mediating effect of oxidative stress has not been observed.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Acetylcholinesterase ; Biomarkers/urine* ; Oxidative Stress ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Coal

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Humans ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; Volatilization

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of particulate matter pollution in coke oven plant, so as to provide scientific data for establishing occupational exposure limits for coke oven emissions.

METHODSConcentrations of CO, SO₂, BSM, BTEX (concentrations of benzene, toluene and xylene were determined in this study), PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, 16 selected PAHs in PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ were determined in the work environment of a coke oven plant in Wuhan. The work environment was divided into the adjunct area, the bottom of, the side of and the top of coke oven.

RESULTSThe concentrations of CO, SO₂, BSM, BETX, PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, PAHs in PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ were significantly related to working environmental categories, respectively, and were increasing as the adjunct area < bottom < side < top (P (trend) < 0.05). PM₁₀ was statistically significantly correlated with CO, SO₂, benzene, BTEX and BSM (0.705, 0.823, 0.664, 0.624 and 0.734, respectively). PM₂.₅ was statistically significantly correlated with CO, SO₂, benzene, BTEX and BSM (0.635, 0.916, 0. 680, 0.553 and 0.726, respectively). BSM was statistically significantly correlated with benzene (0.689). The ratios of PM₂.₅ to PM₁₀ between different work environments were not significantly different in one-way ANOVA (P > 0.05). The distribution of aromatic rings and the concentrations of total benzo[a] pyrene equivalents in PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ were not statistically different between work environments.

CONCLUSIONThe concentrations of particulate matter was related with other contents of coke oven emissions in coke work environment, and the contents and types of PAHs in PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ were similar.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Benzene ; analysis ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; analysis ; Coke ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; Toluene ; analysis ; Workplace ; Xylenes ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the neurobehavioral function of coke oven workers.

METHODS200 healthy adult male coke oven workers were selected from a coke plant of a state-owned steel enterprise in Taiyuan City. 88 controls occupationally unexposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were selected from the same enterprise. All the subjects participated in this investigation voluntarily in their consent. Concentration of B(a)P in the working environment was monitored by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Urine samples were sampled immediately after working shifts. The level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was determined by HPLC. General information of workers correlated with the investigation was collected in a questionnaire according to the same criteria by well-trained investigators. Neurobehavioral core test battery (NCTB) recommended WHO was performed on coke oven workers and controls to test the neurobehavioral changes and the mood state.

RESULTSthe concentration of B(a)P at oven bottom,oven side and oven top were 0.0195 microg/m3, 0.186 microg/m3 and 1.624 microg/m3 respectively, that at oven side and oven top being higher than the one stipulated by the occupational hygiene criterion. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was significantly different between the exposure group (3.42 +/- 0.98 micromol/mol creatinine) and control group (2.75 +/- 1.09 micromol/mol creatinine). No significant differences were found between exposure group and control group of age, working years, smoking, drinking and unhealthy food consumption; however, compared to the controls, the scores of total digital span, the forward digital span, and right dotting in the coke oven workers were lower, but that of total dotting was higher, with a statistical significance. According to urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration, all the subjects were divided into three groups. (<3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, 3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, >3.87 micromol/mol creatinine). Significant differences of the total digital span, the forward digital span, backward digital span, digit symbol and Benton visual retentions existed in different urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration groups and showed a dose-response tendency. Results of multiple stepwise regression analysis and correlation analysis showed that the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene affected memory and perception of coke oven workers and negative correlations between the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and changes in neurobehavioral function were found.

CONCLUSIONPAHs mainly causes decrease of memory and perception in coke oven workers.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Coke ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; urine