Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2002 Mar;14(1):97-106.

Lung Cancer Occurring in a Worker Exposed to Coke Oven Emissions

• Lim HS
• Choi JK
• Kwon EH
• Kim H

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
We report a case of lung cancer (small cell carcinoma) occurring in a worker exposed to coke oven emissions.
METHODS
We examined the chest CT and pathologic findings of the patient. We reviewed previous environmental measurements for coke oven emissions at the workers place of employment. Also we measured the airborne concentrations for coke oven emissions and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the work area. Finally, we analyzed the 1-hydroxypyrene and 2-naphthol concentrations in the subjects urine and compared this with student controls.
RESULTS
This case was a 56-year-old male who had worked in a coke oven plant within a steel manufacturing factory for 21 years (1977-1998). The airborne concentrations of coke oven emissions at the worksite were above the permissible exposure level (0.2 mg/m3) in 45 cases (33.1%) among 136 workers. The concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene and 2-naphthol in the subjects urine were statistically significantly elevated as compared with those of controls (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
We confirmed that the lung cancer occurring in this patient was as an occupational disease due to exposure to coke oven emissions. To prevent occupational cancer in coke oven plant workers, we must remodel the engineering procedure, begin comprehensive medical surveillance, educate workers on risks and the benefits of smoking cessation, and increase awareness of safety regulations in the workplace.

Keyword

Lung neoplasms; Coke; 1-hydroxypyrene; 2-naphthol; Occupational health

MeSH Terms

Coke*
Employment
Humans
Lung Neoplasms*
Lung*
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Health
Plants
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
Smoking Cessation
Social Control, Formal
Steel
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Workplace
Coke
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
Steel