Dose-response relationship between urinary PAH metabolites and blood viscosity among coke oven workers: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been proven to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in coke oven workers, and increased plasma viscosity is a signal for higher risk of catching up cardiovascular disease. We want to explore whether the plasma viscosity is affected by the concentration of PAHs. Design Our study is a cross-sectional dose-response study. Setting Participants in this study came from a coke plant in Taiyuan, Shanxi. Participants We used data of 693 coke oven workers in Taiyuan. Primary and secondary outcome measures We assumed that plasma viscosity would increase as the concentration of PAHs metabolites in urine increases. We found that 2-hydroxyfluorene (OHFLU2) and plasma viscosity have a stable linear relationship in different statistical methods. Results We found that plasma viscosity increased by 1.14 (mPa.s,30/s) for each ng/mL of 2-OHFLU urinary (correlation coefficient range: 0.54-1.74, p<0.05). Conclusions The results of this study could provide evidence for coke oven workers to prevent cardiovascular disease by checking whether plasma viscosity is elevated.