Our data suggest that urinary 1-hydroxypyrene, as biomarker of short-term PAH exposure, and the serum level of CRP, predict the serum levels of SAA in coke oven workers; And thus that exposure of coke oven workers to PAH can lead to increased systemic acute response and potentially increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The gene discussed is SAA1; the disease is pulmonary arterial hypertension.