title: Renal function, cytogenetic measurements, and sexual development in adolescents in relation to environmental pollutants: a feasibility study of biomarkers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human exposure to chemicals is normally monitored by measurement of environmental pollutants in external media. We investigated whether biomarkers in adolescents can show exposure to, and health effects of, common environmental pollutants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 200 17-year-old adolescents (120 girls) from a rural control area and from two suburbs polluted by a lead smelter and two waste incinerators. We measured biomarkers of exposure and of effect in blood and urine samples, and obtained questionnaire data. School doctors measured testicular volume and staged sexual maturation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal exposure was mostly within current standards. Concentrations of lead and cadmium in blood, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxin-like compounds in serum samples, and metabolites of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in urine were higher in one or both suburbs than in the control area. Children who lived near the waste incinerators matured sexually at an older age than others, and testicular volume was smaller in boys from the suburbs than in controls. Biomarkers of glomerular or tubular renal dysfunction in individuals were positively correlated with blood lead. Biomarkers of DNA damage were positively correlated with urinary metabolites of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and VOCs. Interpretation Biomarkers can be used to detect environmental exposure to pollutants and measure their biological effects before overt disease develops. Our findings suggest that current environmental standards are insufficient to avoid measurable biological effects.
authors: Studiecoördinatiecentrum, Hypertensie en Cardiovasculaire Revalidatie Eenheid, Departement Moleculair en Cardiovasculair Onderzoek, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. jan.staessen@med.kuleuven.ac.be
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Staessen
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Nawrot
authors: E D
authors: ED
authors: Hond
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Thijs
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Fagard
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hoppenbrouwers
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Koppen
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Nelen
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Schoeters
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Vanderschueren
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Van Hecke
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Verschaeve
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Vlietinck
authors: H A
authors: HA
authors: Roels
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012424:Rural Population; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013383:Suburban Population
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead