Urinary metabolite profile of PAH as a potential mirror of the genetic disposition for cancer

Polycyclic aromatic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or aromatic amines presently are considerably underestimated with regard to the formation of environmentally caused cancer diseases. The individual urinary metabolite profile raising from the PAH inhaled is invariant. This holds for tar-pitch aerosol exposed Wistar rats as well as for PAH-exposed workers. Significant individual differences of the urinary metabolite profile can be observed in different individuals. The differences reflect the different individual enzyme equipment. There is an individual correlation between the PAH-masses inhaled and the masses of their metabolites excreted in the urine; e.g. the excretion of phenanthrene varies from 5 % to 20 % for different coke workers. The PAH metabolite profile analysis appears to be a suitable tool to estimate the individual cancer risk at PAH-exposed working places since the PAH-induced malign transformation is caused by specific PAH metabolites.