Association of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolite Concentration in Urine and Occupational Stress in Underground Coal Miners, China

Abstract

Abstract This study intends to examine the association of urinary PAHs metabolite concentration and occupational stress in coal miners. We sampled 671 underground coal miners from Datong, China, assessed their occupational stress using the Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised edition (OSI-R), and categorized them into the high stress group and controls based on the occupational stress assessment. We determined urinary hydroxyl PAHs (OH-PAHs) concentrations using the ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and analyzed the association of OH-PAHs concentration with occupational stress using multiple linear regression and covariate balancing generalized propensity score. The low molecular weight (LMW) OH-PAHs and its quartiles were positively associated with Occupational Role Questionnaire (ORQ) score. The OH-PAHs concentration was not associated with PSQ or PRQ score. The OH-PAHs concentration in urine was positively associated with ORQ score in coal miners, particularly the LMW OH-PAHs. Non-association was found in the OH-PAHs concentration with PSQ or PRQ scores.