Blood pressure changes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in outdoor workers.

Abstract

Everyday outdoor workers are exposed to chemicals including the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between hydroxypyrene and blood pressure in outdoor workers. 374 subjects of both sexes entered the study. We evaluated the assay of urinary hydroxypyrene (1-HOP); their blood pressure (BP) was measured in upright position and in the supine position and the correlation between the levels of 1-HOP and BP was assessed using Pearson test and linear multiple regression. The results obtained show that in the total sample the levels of urinary 1-OHP are negatively associated with systolic and diastolic BP in supine position and in upright position. The significance is maintained despite the stratification of the sample according to age; in non-smokers we found a negative relationship between 1-OHP and differential blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic. The results of the study suggest that occupational exposure to PAHs may be able to significantly influence the blood pressure probably acting on the autonomic nervous system.