由於暴露多環芳香族碳氫化合物會導致人類的心血管疾病，其中多環芳香族碳氫化合物的致癌物Benzo[a]pyrene則與人類的動脈硬化有關，並有研究指出暴露多環芳香族碳氫化合物會導致致命性的局部缺血性心臟病，因此對於多環芳香族碳氫化合物暴露作業勞工之心血管效應指標評估研究有其必要性。本研究嘗試評估煉焦勞工與餐館業勞工之多環芳香族碳氫化合物暴露對心血管健康效應指標─高敏感度C反應蛋白之影響。研究對象包括247名男性煉焦勞工與289名男性餐館業勞工，以健康問卷調查，蒐集研究對象的基本資料、工作狀況、生活型態，與健康狀態，並測定作環境空氣中多環芳香族碳氫化合物濃度，而以測定尿液中1-羥基焦腦油為多環芳香族碳氫化合物生物暴露指標，並以測定血清中的高敏感度C反應蛋白作為評估研究對象之心血管效應指標，結果顯示：煉焦勞工之尿液中1-羥基焦腦油平均濃度為40.4 ± 68.2 μg/L，顯著高於餐館業勞工：3.4 ± 5.6 μg/L (p = 0.001)。在校正干擾因子後，煉焦勞工之高敏 感度C反應蛋白濃度偏高的危險性是餐館業勞工的2.48倍（勝算比= 2.48，95%信賴區間=1.59 -3.86），且煉焦勞工所暴露的benzo(a)pyrene平均濃度高於目前美國勞工部職業安全衛生署所規範的容許暴露限值，因此建議煉焦工廠應加強作業環境工程改善與加強煉焦勞工的個人防護具佩戴。

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure has been suggested to be involved in human cardiovascular dysfunction. It has been reported that benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogenic PAH, is involved in atherosclerosis. Occupational PAH exposure may cause fatal ischemic heart disease. Therefore, it is vital to conduct the research for the association between PAH exposure and the biomarker of cardiovascular effects. This study attempted to evaluate the exposure of PAHs on the cardiovascular effects for coke oven workers and restaurant workers. Study participants included 249 male coke oven workers and 289 restaurant workers. Participants’ demographic data, work condition, life style, and health condition were collected by a questionnaire survey. We measured the 1-hydroxypyrene in urine as a biomarker for PAH exposure. The measurement of high sensitive C-reactive protein in serum was used to evaluate the cardiovascular effects in workers. Logistic regression was used to evaluate between the risk of high level of high sensitive C-reactive protein and PAH exposure, and worksite. For coke oven workers, the mean level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration was 40.4 ± 68.2 μg/ L. This level was significantly higher than the restaurant workers which was 3.4 ± 5.6 μg/L (p = 0.001). We found that coke oven workers have 2.48 fold risk to have high concentration of high sensitive C-reactive protein than restaurant workers (odds ratio=2.48, 95% confidence interval=1.59-3.86). The mean concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in the workplace of coke oven workers were significantly higher than permissible exposure level of the Occupational Standards of the Department of Labors in the United States of American. That finding raises the need to immediately develop preventive measures, including the engineering control and personal protection equipments in the workplace of coke oven workers.