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.

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.

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.

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.