The Relationship between Urinary Exposure to PAHs (1-Hydroxyphenanthrene) and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Female Waste Workers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58954/epj.v6i3.471Keywords:
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, urinary OHPHE1, white blood cell count, inflammation, waste workersAbstract
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from open waste burning and contaminated dust at temporary waste collection sites (TPS) may trigger systemic inflammation, particularly among female workers routinely exposed. This study assessed the
association between urinary 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (OHPHE1), a biomarker of PAHs exposure, and white blood cell (WBC) count, an indicator of systemic inammation. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 35 female waste-sorting workers at TPS. Urinary PAHs metabolites (OHPHE1, OHPHE2, OHNAP) were measured in urine, and WBC counts were obtained from blood examinations. Spearman correlation showed a significant positive association between urinary OHPHE1 and WBC count. OHPHE2
showed a positive trend that did not reach statistical significance, whereas OHNAP showed no association. These results suggest that PAHs exposure, particularly as reflected by OHPHE1, may contribute to systemic inflammation among female TPS workers. Reducing
open burning, improving personal protective equipment use, and implementing routine biomonitoring-based health surveillance are recommended.
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