title: Estimating exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a comparison of survey, biological monitoring, and geographic information system-based methods.
abstract: Our objective was to compare polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure estimates based on survey, biological monitoring, and geographic information system (GIS) methods. The 304 participants in this study supplied a urine sample and completed questionnaires about exposure to potential PAH sources. We assayed urine samples for 1-hydroxypyrene-O-glucuronide (1-OHPG), the major metabolite of pyrene, a common PAH. We used a GIS to estimate traffic exhaust exposure using vehicle count data at the residence and workplace. The five subjects who reported smoking during the 48-hour period had median 1-OHPG concentrations 10-fold that of nonsmokers (1.6 versus 0.16 pmol/mL; P = 0.01). Among nonsmokers, those who reported eating grilled, roasted, or broiled meat had significantly higher 1-OHPG concentrations than those who did not reported eating meat prepared by these methods (0.25 versus 0.06 pmol/mL; P = 0.02). Nonsmokers who reported traveling on roads for > or =3 hours during the 48-hour period also had significantly higher 1-OHPG levels than those who traveled <3 hours (0.23 versus 0.11 pmol/mL; P = 0.03). 1-OHPG levels were also correlated with hours of secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers (P = 0.04). In this study, 1-OHPG urine concentrations were not associated with self-reported exposures to cooking smoke, wood burning, or traffic levels near the home or to traffic density or urban/rural status determined using a GIS. Self-reported indicators of residential proximity to high traffic volume were, however, associated with GIS traffic density measures.
authors.affiliation: Northern California Cancer Center, Berkeley, 94704, USA. bgunier@nccc.org
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gunier
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Sauda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yerabati
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hertz
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Horn-Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D003296:Cooking; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D005843:Geography; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011721:Pyrenes; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
chemical_list: C093851:1-hydroxypyrene-glucuronide; D015415:Biomarkers; D005965:Glucuronates; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution