Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) apoptosis in coke oven workers so that we can take effective measures to protect coke oven workers.
Methods: The subjects, 129 coke oven workers and 37 warehouse workers (controls), were investigated using a questionnaire to collect information about their age, working years, smoking and drinking habits, vocational history and other general information. The coke oven workers were divided into the oven-bottom group (34), oven-side group (48) and oven-top group (47) according to their working sites and environmental monitoring data. The concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and the subjects' urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-Py) levels were determined by HPLC. Additionally, the PBMCs were separated from blood samples, and the early and late apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry.
Results: The airborne B[a]P concentrations were 19.5 ± 13.2, 185.9 ± 38.6 and 1,623.5 ± 435.8 ng/m(3) at the bottom, side and top of the oven, respectively, and were higher than in the controls' workplaces 10.2 ± 7.6 ng/m(3). Urinary 1-OH-Py, indicating the B[a]P's internal exposure level, was significantly higher in the exposed groups than in the controls (p<0.05). Compared with the controls, the coke oven workers' PBMC apoptosis rates were significantly increased and increased in association with the B[a]P level. PBMC apoptosis increased in association with the 1-OH-Py level and coking operation years and decreased in association with years of alcohol consumption.
Conclusions: PBMC apoptosis in the coke oven workers was associated with the 1-OH-Py level, coke operation years and years of alcohol consumption and may be induced by B[a]P.