Iron Foundry Workers Research Articles

Silica Exposure and Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular, and Respiratory Morbidity in a Cohort of Male Swedish Iron Foundry Workers.

We present quantitative exposure-response data on silica exposure in male Swedish iron foundry workers for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory morbidity. This research is a cohort study of 2063 male Swedish iron foundry workers. From the Swedish National Patient Registers, data on morbidity incidence were retrieved. A historical measurement database of 1667 respirable silica exposure measurements from 10 Swedish iron foundries was used to calculate the cumulative exposure dose for each worker. Increased morbidity risk for the whole group of foundry workers was determined for ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and pneumonia. In addition, an increased risk for COPD at cumulative silica exposures ranging from 0.11 to 0.84 mg/m 3 year is presented. The study presents a significantly increased COPD risk at cumulative silica exposures below the Swedish occupational exposure limit.

Respirable Dust and Silica: Respiratory Diseases Among Swedish Iron Foundry Workers.

The mortality and morbidity pattern for respiratory diseases was determined in a cohort of 1752 Swedish foundry workers, particularly for respirable silica dust exposure. The morbidity follow-up in the Swedish National Non-primary Outpatient Register covered 2001 to 2017 (NPR; specialist not in care patients), the mortality from the National Causes of Death Register covered 2001 to 2017. Cumulative exposures to silica and dust were determined. The morbidity in COPD showed significantly increased risk for all exposure groups, as did silicosis in the high exposure group, these cases corresponded to silica exposure levels below 0.05 mg/m3. The mortality of all causes and respiratory diseases was significantly increased by cumulative silica exposure in the high exposure group. Significantly increased morbidity for respiratory diseases and COPD was determined at silica exposure levels below the current Swedish OEL.

Association between Across-Shift Spirometric Parameters and Sleep Characteristics in Workers with Inhalational Occupational Exposure

Background and Objective: Workplace exposes workers to different hazardous chemicals. In this study, we aimed to assess the changes of pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters as the objective indicator of lung impairment and its association with demographic data and sleep characteristics. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 male workers of a smelting factory located in Tehran Province, Iran. The respiratory symptoms questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and demographic characteristics were recorded for the participants. Participants also underwent spirometry and the related parameters were recorded. Results: A total of 200 iron foundry workers were assessed. All participants were men, and mean ± standard deviation (SD) of age was 39.1 ± 8.9 years ranging from 20 to 65 years. Of 200 workers, 153 (76.5%) were married and 72 (36.0%) were smokers. Among all participants, 131 (65.5%) reported at least one respiratory symptom, and these workers had significantly poorer sleep quality (P = 0.02) and insomnia (P = 0.01). Across-shift change in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of spirometry parameters was significant among participants with clinical insomnia (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively) and poor sleep quality (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Results showed a significant cross-shift reduction in PFT values among workers with clinical insomnia or poor sleep quality. Accordingly, evaluation of sleep characteristics along with respiratory symptoms in workers with inhalational occupational exposure is recommended.

European Publications of the 19th Century as a Source of Oriental Motifs in Decorative Arts and an Attribution Tool

The nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries in the history of European decorative art are marked by a new rise in interest in the art of the Far East. In contrast to the previous century, at the new stage, this interest is characterised by more interesting and deeper interpretations of exotic artistic traditions. The reasons for the emergence of a new wave of Chinese style and, later, Japanism were several factors, among which the authors single out the institute of world exhibitions and the formation of museum and private collections. This article considers several cases demonstrating the important role of publication activity in the dissemination of oriental motifs and plots in the decorative art of Western Europe, Russia, and the Urals. Referring to works of European jewelers, Russian stonecutters, and Ural iron foundry workers, the authors reveal the main opportunities provided by the study and analysis of publications of an artistic, reference, and academic nature from between the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The article examines European print publications as direct and possible sources of oriental plots, which, in addition, make it possible to clarify the attribution of individual works and form an understanding of the mechanisms of integration of exotic motifs into traditional types of decorative art in the Urals. The analysis of publication activity, as well as of specific works of European and Russian masters, not only made it possible to demonstrate the role of publications of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in disseminating information about exotic artistic traditions. The examples considered convincingly prove the need to comprehend the decorative and applied art of Russia in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as part of the European art market, and once again confirm the involvement of the Ural art industry in the current stylistic agenda.

Quartz Dust Exposure Affects NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Plasma Levels of IL-18 and IL-1Ra in Iron Foundry Workers.

Purpose To study the association between inhalation of particulate matter or quartz in Swedish iron foundries and the effects on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Methods Particle exposure measurements were performed during an eight-hour work day for 85 foundry workers at three Swedish iron foundries. Personal sampling was used for measurement of respirable quartz and dust and stationary measurements to obtain exposure measurements for inhalable dust and PM10. The NLRP3 inflammasome markers, interleukin- (IL-) 1β and IL-18, and inhibitors IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) were measured in plasma. Inflammasome activation was measured by caspase-1 enzymatic activity in monocytes in whole blood by flow cytometry, and expression of inflammasome-related genes was quantified using real-time PCR. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate associations between PM exposures and inflammatory markers. Sex, age, smoking, current infection, BMI, and single nucleotide polymorphism in the inflammasome regulating genes CARD8 (C10X) and NLRP3 (Q705K) were included as covariates. Results The average exposure levels of respirable dust and quartz were 0.85 and 0.052 mg/m3, respectively. A significant exposure-response was found for respirable dust and IL-18 and for inhalable dust and IL-1Ra. Whole blood, drawn from study participants, was stimulated ex vivo with inflammasome priming stimuli LPS or Pam3CSK4, resulting in a 47% and 49% increase in caspase-1 enzymatic activity in monocytes. This increase in caspase-1 activity was significantly attenuated in the higher exposure groups for most PM exposure measures. Conclusions The results indicate that exposure levels of PM in the iron foundry environment can affect the NLRP3 inflammasome and systemic inflammation.

Martinászok polgári köntösben : A magyar termelési dráma Mándi Éva Hétköznapok hősei című műve alapján

Éva Mándi’s play Everyday Heroes premiered in November 1949 in the Budapest Inner City Theatre. While this was the first time in the history of Hungarian theatre that a hyper-realistic iron foundry and foundry workers were presented on the stage of an urban theatre, the play and its performance still follow the beats of a pre-war society comedy both in dramaturgy and diction, even though the coda doesn’t feature the reunion and marriage of lovers, but the triumph of increased production.

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons Depositions and Their Carcinogenic Risk Assessment in the Foundry Workers

The study was initiated to determinants of inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) among iron foundry workers in different workplace namely, molding, melting, shaking, blasting and finishing sections. The study population included five sections of foundry workers: 22 molding, 25 melting, 20 shaking, 18 blasting and 15 finishing workers. During work shifts, personal air samples were collected from each worker’s breathing zone using a PTFE filter and cassette holder connected in series with an XAD-2 sorbent tube. The entire sample were analysed for sixteen PAHs with HPLC. The total inhalation exposure of total PAHs (ΣPAHs) concentrations was 46.64 μg/m3 ranging 0.08–478.43 μg/m3 in all the samples. The PAHs with lower molecular weight and higher molecular weight contributed 55.02% and 44.98%, respectively, to the ΣPAHs. About 16% exposure samples collected at various sections of foundry exceeded the PAHs level prescribed by NIOSH standard limit. The highest level of ΣPAHs were found in the molding (82.64 μg/m3) followed by finishing (67.86 μg/m3), blasting (34.74 μg/m3), shaking (25.04 μg/m3) and melting (23.48 μg/m3) sections, respectively. By applying risk assessment it was estimated that the total unit risk of PAHs harming the foundry workers was 9.43 × 10–4 and about 95% of total risk is contributed by benzo[α]pyrene (BaP) and dibenzo [α h]anthracene (DahA). The study indicating the inhalation risk due to these PAHs exposures are not negligible and should be taken into account for health protection of the workers to address the quantitative aspects relating lung cancer risks to PAHs compounds in foundries.

Workplace Respirable Dust Monitoring And Risk Factor Assessment In Foundry Process

A study was carried out among iron foundry workers to assess occupational exposure to ambient respiratory dust in their work environment and rates of risk factors in each process by using Bayesian decision analysis (BDA) and AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association) exposure categorization guidelines. A total of 93 respirable dust samples were collected in various processes, including the molding, melting, shakeout, heat treatment, felting and finishing units of the foundries. The mean concentrations of respirable dust were 1.40±0.86 mg/m 3 in the molding process, 1.42±0.63 mg/m 3 in melting, 0.56±0.59 mg/m 3 in shakeouts, 1.63±0.85mg/m 3 in heat treatment, 2.17±0.61 mg/m 3 in felting, and 3.30±3.47 mg/m 3 in the finishing sections, respectively. The mean levels of respirable dust in the finishing process exceed the ACGIH standard (TLV 3 mg/m 3 ). The results of BDA show that the respirable dust exposures were in AIHA Category 4 for shakeouts (96.7% probability), felting (98.1% probability), and finishing (100% probability), respectively. The exposures belonged to category 3 for molding (52.8% probability), melting (79.4% probability) and heat treatment (40.3% probability), respectively. Therefore, it is required to have immediate control and safety adaptation by personal protective equipment of proper respiratory musk, engineer control, chemical analysis of respirable dust, exposure surveillance in order to prevent from being exposed to respirable dust among the foundry workers.

Effectiveness of a cooling jacket with reference to physiological responses in iron foundry workers

Personal cooling garments (PCGs) have gained increased attention in recent years due to heat stress and strain in the working environment. The present study was conducted in hot environments of an iron foundry to evaluate the efficacy of a battery-operated PCG. Twenty-four workers were exposed to climatic conditions of 35.89 ± 1.25 °C, 35% relative humidity during 90-min work with PCG and habitual clothing (HC). Mean weighted skin temperature was significantly lower by 4.84 ± 1.05 °C compared with HC 0.38 ± 1.02 °C (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was also observed for 0.492 ± 0.26 g mean sweat loss in the PCG group compared with 0.775 ± 0.42 g in the HC group (p < 0.05). Heart rate, and back and chest skin temperatures were comparatively more reduced in the PCG group compared with the HC group. PCG provides a practical and economical way of alleviating the physiological effects of heat stress when environmental control is not feasible.

Comparison of workers' perceptions toward work climate and health symptoms between ceramic and iron foundry workers.

Background:Workers exposed to heavy manual material handling (MMH) in a hot working environment succumb to severe physical stress and psychological stress.Aims:(1) Recognize the heat load at workplaces of ceramic industry and iron industry, and (2) comparatively examine the characteristics of self-reported physiological responses and heat-health perception among these workers.Settings and Design:Cross-sectional prospective study.Materials and Methods:Workplace microclimate in the ceramic industry and iron industry was monitored. An ergonomic checklist and a questionnaire was used to record self-reported workers’ perceptions toward heat stress at workplace (ceramic workers N = 321, iron foundry workers N = 253). The prevalence rates of subjective symptoms among workers of both the industries were compared.Statistical Analysis:Chi-square test was used to examine the association between stressors and health complaints at a significance level set at P < 0.05.Results:Iron foundries recorded higher mean ambient temperature (43.4 ± 3.7°C) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WGBT) index (31.5 ± 0.7°C) as compared to ceramic industries (39.9 ± 3.3°C and 28 ± 1.5°C, respectively). Heavy sweating, elevated body temperature, sleeplessness, excessive thirst, muscular discomforts, and fatigue were prime symptoms recorded among workers of both industries. Skin-related disorders (red face, dry skin, bumps, itching) were significantly higher among iron foundry workers, whereas sleeplessness, high blood pressure, heavy sweating, kidney stone, decreased urination, muscular discomforts, and fatigue were significantly more among ceramic workers. Young workers reported more sweating and fatigue than older workers.Conclusions:A hot work climate and heavy manual labor designate ceramic and iron industries as arduous. Direct contact with hot surface and continuous MMH in tandem with the mechanical pace of production process makes work in ceramic industries more difficult than iron foundries.

Everything Old is New Again?

The transition to a cast iron industry was essential to the development of ancient China. Previous studies, however, did not address precisely how this process occurred and how the preexisting bronze industry could have served as the foundation for the transition. This paper develops a framework focusing on three parameters—techniques, assemblages of final products, and production organization—to investigate the mechanism of the transition to cast iron. Results of two case studies indicate that the three parameters do not demonstrate dramatic changes between the two industries. Also, cast iron and bronze foundry workers were not segregated; they often worked side by side at the same foundry. Very likely, the cast iron foundry workers adopted and adjusted the original bronze production techniques and, consequently, maintained the preexisting organization. This study illustrates how cast iron manufacturing developed based on the indigenous bronze production in the Central Plains of China, and aims more broadly to contribute to the discussion of technological transitions in archaeological contexts.

Biological monitoring of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in subjects living in the area of recycling electronic garbage, in Southern China

The study was undertaken to evaluate the environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in subjects living in the area of recycling electronic garbage in Southern China and research the influence of environment smoke tobacco (EST) to people through active and passive smoking. Urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene were determined in 141 randomly selected voluntary residents aged 13 to 81 years in two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-exposed groups, two control groups, and an EST research group. The concentrations of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene in PAH-exposed groups are significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of control groups. Mean value of 1-hydroxypyrene in the residents living in the area of recycling electronic garbage (1.1 μmol/mol creatinine) is a little higher than those of iron foundry workers, automobile repair workers, and firefighters. Mean value of 2-hydroxynaphthalene (11.3 μmol/mol creatinine) is much higher than that of shipyard and aircraft maintenance and much lower than some occupational exposure, such as coking batteries, sorting department, and distillation department in coking plant. Some metabolites of PAHs (PAHm) are significantly elevated through active and passive smoking, while the influence of EST to other PAHm is not statistically significant. 2-Hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene in the urine of smokers are, respectively, 3.9, 1.9, 1.4, and 1.9 times to those of nonsmokers. In nonsmokers, passive smokers excreted 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, and 1.5 times of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene compared to nonpassive smokers.

Two Cases of Lung Cancer in Foundry Workers

BackgroundIron and steel foundry workers are exposed to various toxic and carcinogenic substances including crystalline silica, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and arsenic. Studies have been conducted on lung cancer in iron and steel founding workers and the concentration of crystalline silica in foundries; however, the concentration of crystalline silica and cases of lung cancer in a single foundry has never been reported in Korea. Therefore, the authors report two cases of lung cancer and concentration of crystalline silica by the X-ray diffraction method.Case presentationA 55-year-old blasting and grinding worker who worked in a foundry for 33 years was diagnosed with lung cancer. Another 64-year-old forklift driver who worked in foundries for 39 years was also diagnosed with lung cancer. Shot blast operatives were exposed to the highest level of respirable quartz (0.412 mg/m3), and a forklift driver was exposed to 0.223 mg/m3.ConclusionsThe lung cancer of the two workers is very likely due to occupationally related exposure given their occupational history, the level of exposure to crystalline silica, and epidemiologic evidence. Further studies on the concentration of crystalline silica in foundries and techniques to reduce the crystalline silica concentration are required.

Cancer morbidity and quartz exposure in Swedish iron foundries

The aim of this study was to determine cancer morbidity amongst Swedish iron foundry workers with special reference to quartz exposure. In addition to respirable dust and quartz, phenol, formaldehyde, furfuryl alcohols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon black, isocyanates and asbestos are used or generated by foundry production techniques and exposure to any of these substances could have potentially carcinogenic effects. Cancer morbidity between 1958 and 2004 was evaluated in a cohort of 3,045 male foundry workers employed for >1year between 1913 and 2005. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined by comparing observed numbers of incident cancers with frequencies in the Swedish cancer register. Exposure measures were assessed using information from the personal files of employees and modelling quartz measurement based on a database of 1,667 quartz measurements. Dose responses for lung cancer were determined for duration of employment and cumulative quartz exposure for latency periods >20years. Overall cancer morbidity was not increased amongst the foundry workers (SIR 1.00; 95% CI, 0.90-1.11), but the incidence of lung cancer was significantly elevated (SIR 1.61; 95% CI, 1.20-2.12). A non-significant negative dose response was determined using external comparison with a latency period of >20years (SIR 2.05, 1.72 1.26 for the low, medium and high exposure groups), supported by internal comparison data (hazard ratios 1, 1.01, 0.78) for the corresponding groups. For cancers at sites with at least five observed cases and a SIR>1.25, non-significant risks with SIRs>1.5 were determined for cancers of the liver, larynx, testis, connective muscle tissue, multiple myeloma plasmacytoma and lymphatic leukaemia. A significant overall risk of lung cancer was determined, but using external and internal comparison groups could not confirm any dose response at our cumulative quartz dose levels.

Cancer morbidity and quartz exposure in Swedish iron foundries

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine cancer morbidity for Swedish iron foundry workers with special reference to quartz exposure.MethodsThe cohort of 3 045 men employed between 1913 and...

Dermal and Inhalation Exposure to Methylene Bisphenyl Isocyanate (MDI) in Iron Foundry Workers

Diisocyanates are a group of chemically reactive agents, which are used in the production of coatings, adhesives, polyurethane foams, and parts for the automotive industry and as curing agents for cores in the foundry industry. Dermal and inhalation exposure to methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI) is associated with respiratory sensitization and occupational asthma. However, limited research has been performed on the quantitative evaluation of dermal and inhalation exposure to MDI in occupationally exposed workers. The objective of this research was to quantify dermal and inhalation exposure levels in iron foundry workers. Workers involved in mechanized moulding and mechanized production of cores were monitored: 12 core makers, 2 core-sand preparers, and 5 core installers. Personal breathing-zone levels of MDI were measured using impregnated filter sampling. Dermal exposure to MDI was measured using a tape-strip technique. Three or five consecutive tape-strip samples were collected from five exposed skin areas (right and left forefingers, left and right wrists, and forehead). The average personal air concentration was 0.55 microg m(-3), 50-fold lower than the Swedish occupational exposure limit of 30 microg m(-3). The core makers had an average exposure of 0.77 microg m(-3), which was not significantly different from core installers' and core-sand preparers' average exposure of 0.16 microg m(-3) (P = 0.059). Three core makers had a 10-fold higher inhalation exposure than the other core makers. The core makers' mean dermal exposure at different skin sites varied from 0.13 to 0.34 microg while the two other groups' exposure ranged from 0.006 to 0.062 microg. No significant difference was observed in the MDI levels between the skin sites in a pairwise comparison, except for left forefinger compared to left and right wrist (P < 0.05). In addition, quantifiable but decreasing levels of MDI were observed in the consecutive tape strip per site indicating MDI penetration into the skin. This study indicates that exposure to MDI can be quantified on workers' skin even if air levels are close to unquantifiable. Thus, the potential for uncured MDI to deposit on and penetrate into the skin is demonstrated. Therefore, dermal exposure along with inhalation exposure to MDI should be measured in the occupational settings where MDI is present in order to shed light on their roles in the development of occupational isocyanate asthma.

Respiratory disease and cardiovascular morbidity

Background: Work related dust exposure is a risk factor for acute and chronic respiratory irritation and inflammation. Exposure to dust and cigarette smoke predisposes to exogenous viral and bacterial infections...

Dust exposure and impairment of lung function at a small iron foundry in a rapidly developing country

OBJECTIVESA cross sectional prospective study was carried out among iron foundry workers (exposed) and soft drink bottling and supply company workers (unexposed) to assess their occupational exposure to ambient respiratory...

Lung cancer risk in iron and steel foundry workers: a nested case control study in Asturias, Spain.

Workers of iron and steel foundries have a high lung cancer risk but the findings on specific processes associated with this risk are inconsistent. We examined the risk of lung cancer among workers in the main industrial processes of a large iron and steel foundry in Asturias, Spain. We conducted a nested case-control study comprised of 144 male lung cancer cases and 558 controls, selected from a study base of about 24,400 workers employed in the industry between 1952 and 1995. Cases were identified through linkage of industry records with those of two cancer registries. Controls were selected through industry records using incidence density sampling, were matched to cases by age and date of birth and had to be alive and without lung cancer at the time of selection. Smoking history was obtained through company medical records. Unconditional logistic regression was applied and all ORs were adjusted for age and tobacco consumption. Workers were, on an average, heavy smokers and a very strong relation was observed for smoking (OR for "ever smoker" = 32.4). Workers having ever been employed in the blast furnace had an excess lung cancer risk (OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.25-5.21) compared to a reference group of workers not employed in metal producing departments. A similar excess was observed for workers having as their longest held job employment in the blast furnace. A two-fold risk was also observed for workers in the main foundry. For subgroups of workers, tobacco smoking appeared to be an important positive or negative confounder. In this large Spanish foundry, a high risk was observed for workers employed in departments with high exposure to crystalline silica, PAHs, and various other carcinogenic chemicals. Although comparisons were made between workers of the same industry, smoking habits differed and adjustment by smoking modified considerably the risk estimates.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene as a biomarker of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: biological monitoring strategies and methodology for determining biological exposure indices for various work environments

This article reviews the published studies on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as a biomarker of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in work environments. Sampling and analysis strategies as well as a methodology for determining biological exposure indices (BEIs) of 1-OHP in urine for different work environments are proposed for the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to PAHs. Owing to the kinetics of absorption of pyrene by different exposure routes and excretion of 1-OHP in urine, in general, 1-OHP urinary excretion levels increase during the course of a workday, reaching maximum values 3-9 h after the end of work. When the contribution of dermal exposure is important, post-shift 1-OHP excretion can however be lower than pre-shift levels in the case where a worker has been exposed occupationally to PAHs on the day prior to sampling. In addition, 1-OHP excretion levels in either pre-shift, post-shift or evening samples increase during the course of a work-week, levelling off after three consecutive days of work. Consequently, ideally, for a first characterization of a work environment and for an indication of the major exposure route, considering a 5-day work-week (Monday to Friday), the best sampling strategy would be to collect all micturitions over 24 h starting on Monday morning. Alternatively, collection of pre-shift, post-shift and evening urine samples on the first day of the work-week and at the end of the work-week is recommended. For routine monitoring, pre-shift samples on Monday and post-shift samples on Friday should be collected when pulmonary exposure is the main route of exposure. On the other hand, pre-shift samples on Monday and Friday should be collected when the contribution of skin uptake is important. The difference between beginning and end of work-week excretion will give an indication of the average exposure over the workweek. Pre-shift samples on the first day of the work-week will indicate background values, and, hence, reflect general environment exposure and body burden of pyrene and/or its metabolites. On the other hand, since PAH profile can vary substantially in different work sites, a single BEI cannot apply to all workplaces. A simple equation was therefore developed to establish BEIs for workers exposed to PAHs in different work environments by using a BEI already established for a given work environment and by introducing a correction factor corresponding to the ratio of the airborne concentration of the sum of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) equivalent to that of pyrene. The sum of BaP equivalent concentrations represents the sum of carcinogenic PAH concentrations expressed as BaP using toxic equivalent factors. Based on a previously estimated BEI of 2.3 μmol 1-OHP mol-1 creatinine for coke-oven workers, BEIs of 4.4, 8.0 and 9.8 μmol 1-OHP mol-1 creatinine were respectively calculated for vertical pin Söderberg workers, anode workers and pre-bake workers of aluminium plants and a BEI of 1.2 μmol 1-OHP mol-1 creatinine was estimated for iron foundry workers. This approach will allow the potential risk of cancer in individuals occupationally exposed to PAHs to be assessed better.