Biological Monitoring of Naphthalene Exposure

• Main Authors: Shang-Yun Sun, 孫上云
• Other Authors: Chia-Wei Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/83077861570242182149

碩士 === 國立高雄第一科技大學 === 環境與安全衛生工程所 === 96 === Naphthalene (NAP) is an ubiquitous environmental pollutant. For many years naphthalene had been considered as a non-carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Since year of 2000, when the US National Toxicology Program revealed clear evidence of the carcinogenic activity of naphthalene in rats, international agencies have reclassified NAP as a potential human carcinogen. Urinary 1-naphthol (1-NAP) and 2-naphthol (2-NAP) levels which are metabolized by the liver transformation was acted as a biomarker of the exposure to NAP. By combining the results of ambient air monitor and biological monitoring, we could understand the actual human exposure to naphthalene. The purpose of this study is to understand the occupational and non-occupational NAP exposure by monitoring air and urinary metabolites (1-NAP and 2–NAP) concentrations. A total of 121 volunteers participated in this study and subjects were classed as office worker, coal tar plant employees, and students. The air concentrations for new coal tar factory, old coal tar factory and office were 52.92 μg/m3, 28.39 μg/m3 and 15.12 μg/m3, respectively. Biological monitoring results show urinary 2-NAP associated with NAP occupational exposure. Results show that urinary 2-NAP is a good early indicator of NAP exposure.