Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in children living in city and rural residences in Denmark.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to assess the biological uptake in children of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons measured as 1-hydroxypyrene in urine from children living in city and rural residences.


METHODS
103 children living in Copenhagen and 101 children living in rural residences of Denmark collected urine samples Monday to Friday morning. Each day, the family filled in a printed diary that included questions about the time and activity patterns of the child. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of the excreted 1-hydroxypyrene level.


RESULTS
During the week, the children excreted on average 0.07 [95% CI: 0.01-0.41] micromol urinary 1-hydroxypyrene per mol creatinine. Children living in urban residences excreted 0.02 [95% CI: 0.01-0.05] micromol more 1-hydroxypyrene than children living in rural residences. This was confirmed in the multiple regression analysis showing a 29% (95% CI: 2-64%) higher excretion among urban children than rural children. Moreover, the regression analysis showed that for each hour per day spent outside the children excreted 58% (1.58 [1.22-2.03]) more 1-hydroxypyrene in urine.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicates that children living in urban residences are more exposed to PAH than children living in rural residences. Time spent outdoors increased the excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene, which was most evident among urban children. Higher concentrations of ambient air pollution in urban areas may explain this finding. No influence of environmental tobacco smoke, cooking habits, and heating facilities was detected.
Hansen
Ase Marie
AM
National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. aamh@ami.dk
Raaschou-Nielsen
Ole
O
Knudsen
Lisbeth Ehlert
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003710:Demography; D003718:Denmark; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012423:Rural Health; D014504:Urban Health
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011721:Pyrenes; D003404:Creatinine; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene