Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic compounds in the urine of mining workers occupationally exposed to diesel exhaust.

Diesel exhaust is considered a probable human carcinogen by the IARC. Biomonitoring of workers occupationally exposed to diesel exhaust was performed to determine their internal burden of diesel associated aromatic compounds. Personal air sampling also allowed to determine the exposure of the miners at their work place towards several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitro-arenes, the latter of which are thought to be specific constituents of diesel exhaust.