[Effects of the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or toluene on thiobarbituric acid reactive substance level in elementary school children and the elderly in a rural area].
OBJECTIVE
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and toluene have been reported to induce reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. This study was performed to investigate the effects of low level exposure to PAHs or toluene on the lipid peroxidation level in elementary school children and the elderly in a rural area.


METHODS
Forty seven elementary school children and 40 elderly people who were living in a rural area and not occupationally exposed to PAH or toluene were the subjects of this study. Information about active or passive smoking and diet was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. The urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), 2-naphthol, hippuric acid and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations were measured, and these values were corrected with the urinary creatinine concentration.


RESULTS
In school children, the geometric means of the urinary 1-OHP, 2-naphthol, hippuric acid and TBARS levels were 0.02 micromol/mol creatinine, 0.47 micromol/mol creatinine, 0.14 g/g creatinine and 0.95 micromol/g creatinine, respectively. Those values for the elderly were 0.07 micromol/mol creatinine, 1.87 micromol/mol creatinine, 0.11 g/g creatinine and 1.18 micro mol/g creatinine, respectively. The mean levels of urinary 1-OHP, 2-naphthol and TBARS were significantly higher in the elderly subjects than in the children. The urinary TBARS level was not correlated with the urinary 1-OHP, 2-naphthol and hippuric acid, but they were correlated with the age of the subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that low level inhalation exposure to PAH or toluene does not markedly increase lipid peroxidation, and age is a significant determinant of lipid peroxidation.
Kim
Dae Seon
DS
Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea.
Lee
Chul Ho
CH
Eom
Sang Yong
SY
Kang
Tackshin
T
Kim
Yong Dae
YD
Kim
Heon
H
D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D012424:Rural Population; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D014050:Toluene / Q000633:toxicity*; D016482:Urinalysis
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014050:Toluene