OBJECTIVES We report a case of lung cancer (small cell carcinoma) occurring in a worker exposed to coke oven emissions. METHODS We examined the chest CT and pathologic findings of the patient. We reviewed previous environmental measurements for coke oven emissions at the workers place of employment. Also we measured the airborne concentrations for coke oven emissions and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the work area. Finally, we analyzed the 1-hydroxypyrene and 2-naphthol concentrations in the subjects urine and compared this with student controls. RESULTS This case was a 56-year-old male who had worked in a coke oven plant within a steel manufacturing factory for 21 years (1977-1998). The airborne concentrations of coke oven emissions at the worksite were above the permissible exposure level (0.2 mg/m3) in 45 cases (33.1%) among 136 workers. The concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene and 2-naphthol in the subjects urine were statistically significantly elevated as compared with those of controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that the lung cancer occurring in this patient was as an occupational disease due to exposure to coke oven emissions. To prevent occupational cancer in coke oven plant workers, we must remodel the engineering procedure, begin comprehensive medical surveillance, educate workers on risks and the benefits of smoking cessation, and increase awareness of safety regulations in the workplace.
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Occupational Cancers with Chemical Exposure and their Prevention in Korea: A Literature Review Kyung-Taek Rim Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.2013; 14(6): 3379. CrossRef
Occupational Respiratory Cancer in Korea Hye-Eun Lee, Hyoung Ryoul Kim Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(Suppl): S94. CrossRef
OBJECTIVES This study was performed to describe the distribution patterns of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and 2naphthol concentration in coke oven workers and workers not occupationally exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and to determine the effects of occupation life style, and genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), glutathione Stransferase mu 1 (GSTM1) and theta 1 (GSTT1) on urinary 1- OHP and 2-naphthol concentration. METHODS The study subjects were 19 coke oven workers and 156 shipyard workers. A questionnaire was used to obtain data about detailed smoking and food intake history. Urinary 1OHP and 2naphthol concentration and genetic polymorphism of CYPIA1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 were analyzed. RESULTS The urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentration was higher in the coke oven workers and in smokers. Urinary 1-OHP concentration was significantly correlated with time after last intake of roasted meat in non-smoking coke oven workers, whereas urinary 2-naphthol concentration was with amount of cigarette smoking at the sampling day in smoking shipyard workers. Urinary 1-OHP, but not 2-naphthol, concentration of the shipyard workers with Ile/Ile type of CYP1A1 vas significantly lower than that of the shipyard workers with other CYP1A1 genotype. CONCLUSIONS Urinary 1-OHP would be a better marker for occupational exposure to PAH in coke oven workers, and urinary 2naphthol might be better for non-occupational inhalation exposure to PAH. CYP1A1 would not play an important role in the metabolism of naphthalene but in the metabolism of pyrene.
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A study of the status of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in relation to its metabolites among workers in a Korean chemical factory Kwan Lee, Hyun-Sul Lim, Heon Kim Ciência & Saúde Coletiva.2014; 19(12): 4809. CrossRef
1-Hydroxypyrene as a biomarker of PAH exposure among subjects living in two separate regions from a steel mill Mi-Sun Lee, Ki-Do Eum, Kyung-Duk Zoh, Tak-Soo Kim, Yun-Suk Pak, Domyung Paek International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health.2007; 80(8): 671. CrossRef