Asphalt, oxidized

Exposure related observations in humans: other data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

exposure-related observations in humans: other data

Type of information:

other: human study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

other: Human study; limited reliability

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: small worker populations, type of bitumens not specified, possible confounding exposures (coal tar)

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Immunologic measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-albumin adducts in foundry workers and roofers.

Author:

Lee

Year:

1991

Bibliographic source:

Scand J Work Environ Health 1991;17:190-4

Materials and methods

Endpoint addressed:

other: worker exposure study using biomarkers

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Workplace worker health survey, based on blood sample analysis to investigate albumin adduct formation.

GLP compliance:

no

Remarks:

not required

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Asphalt, oxidized

EC Number:

265-196-4

EC Name:

Asphalt, oxidized

Cas Number:

64742-93-4

Molecular formula:

Not applicable

IUPAC Name:

Asphalt, oxidized

Constituent 2

Reference substance name:

emissions from oxidized asphalt

IUPAC Name:

emissions from oxidized asphalt

Test material form:

other: oxidized asphalt emissions

Method

Ethical approval:

not specified

Details on study design:

The study group consisted of 12 roofing workers for which the typical work at the roofing site involved removal or "tear off" of sequential sections of an old pitch roof followed by the replacement of each section with a new asphalt roof. On the last day, venous blood was collected for investigation of BaPDE-1 (albumin) adducts using competitive ELISA with monoclonal antibody 8E11. Results were compared to blood samples from 12 comparison subjects who were matched for age, sex and smoking status and were without exposure to PAHs.

Details on exposure:

Air and skin wipe samples
Workplace exposure to emission from oxidized asphalt and possibly coal tar

Results and discussion

Results:

Roofers showed elevated adduct levels compared to controls, however this was not statistically significant at the P=0.05 level. In addition, these PAH protein adducts did not correlate to the DNA adducts by 32P postlabelling as measured earlier in the Herbert 1990 study.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Roofing workers exposed to emissions from oxidized asphalt showed a higher level of albumin adducts compared to controls, although this was not statistically significant to at the P=0.05 level. Workers might have been co-exposed to coal tar.

Executive summary:

A small group (12) of roofing workers was investigated for albumin adducts in blood plasma using competative ELISA with monoclonal antibody 8E11 and compared to results from 12 matched controls. There was some evidence, although not statistically significant at the P=0.05 level, of increased albumin adducts in the exposed workers. However, the small study group and possibility of co-exposure to coal tar limits the usefulness of the study.