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Association of atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with their urinary metabolites in children and adolescents

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Abstract

This study aims to determine the atmospheric concentrations of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)-bounded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their association with their urinary metabolites in children and adolescents. This study was conducted from October 2014 to March 2016 in Isfahan, Iran. We measured 16 species of PAHs bounded to PM2.5 by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) from 7 parts of the city. Moreover, PAH urinary metabolites were measured in 186 children and adolescents, randomly selected from households. Urinary metabolites consisted of 1-hydroxy naphthalene (1-naphthol), 2-hydroxy naphthalene (2-naphthol), 9-hydroxy phenanthrene (9-phenanthrol), and 1-hydroxy pyrene using GC/MS. Considering the short half-lives of PAHs, we measured the metabolites twice with 4 to 6 months of time interval. We found that the ambient concentrations of PAHs were significantly associated with their urinary metabolites. 1-hydroxy naphthalene and 2-hydroxy naphthalene concentrations showed an increase of 1.049 (95% CI: 1.030, 1.069) and 1.047 (95% CI: 1.025, 1.066) for each unit increase (1 ng/m3) in ambient naphthalene. Similarly, 1-hydroxy pyrene showed an increase of 1.009 (95% CI: 1.006–1.011) for each unit increase (1 ng/m3) in ambient pyrene concentration after adjustment for body mass index, physical activity level, urinary creatinine, age, and sex. The association of urinary 9-hydroxyphenanthrene and ambient phenantherene was significant in the crude model; however after adjustment for the abovementioned covariates, it was no more significant. We found significant correlations between exposure to ambient PM2.5-bounded PAHs and their urinary excretion. Considering the adverse health effects of PAHs in the pediatric age group, biomonitoring of PAHs should be underscored; preventive measures need to be intensified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Parinaz Poursafa

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezarjerib Ave, Isfahan, Iran

    Mohammad Mehdi Amin

  3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Yaghoub Hajizadeh, Hamidreza Pourzamani & Karim Ebrahim

  4. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Marjan Mansourian

  5. Isfahan Department of Environment, Isfahan, Iran

    Babak Sadeghian

  6. Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Roya Kelishadi

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  1. Parinaz Poursafa
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  2. Mohammad Mehdi Amin
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  3. Yaghoub Hajizadeh
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  5. Hamidreza Pourzamani
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  6. Karim Ebrahim
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  7. Babak Sadeghian
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  8. Roya Kelishadi
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Correspondence to Mohammad Mehdi Amin.

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The Research Council and Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, approved the study (Project No.193042). Written informed consent was obtained from parents and oral assent from participants prior to enrolment in the study.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Poursafa, P., Amin, M.M., Hajizadeh, Y. et al. Association of atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with their urinary metabolites in children and adolescents. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 17136–17144 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9315-8

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