title: Comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in placental tissues of Indian women with full- and preterm deliveries.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants formed from combustion products of fossil fuels, cigarette smoking and in grilled/smoked foods. They are reported to alter trophoblast proliferation in placenta, in addition to disturbing its endocrine functions, which may be able to increase the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women. The present study was planned to assess possible involvement of PAHs exposure of pregnant women (measured as placental PAHs concentrations) with preterm delivery cases among women of Lucknow city (India). We performed a case-control study and a total of 60 mothers (n=31 full term and n=29 preterm deliveries) were recruited at a local nursing home of Lucknow, for the period of August 2005-February 2006. Subsequent to parturition, placental tissues from each participant were immediately collected and kept at -20 degrees C until PAHs analyses. Placental tissue PAHs concentrations were determined by HPLC, using a fluorescence detector. Mean+/-SD placental level (61.91+/-12.43ppb) of benzo(b)fluoranthene, a carcinogenic PAH, was found significantly elevated (p<0.05) among women with preterm delivery when compared with the level (23.84+/-7.01) in women having full-term deliveries. In the same way, non-carcinogenic fluoranthene level (325.91+/-45.14ppb) was also detected to be higher in the preterm delivery group compared to 208.6+/-21.93ppb level from the full-term delivery group of women. Additionally naphthalene, acenaphthylene, phenanthrene, anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene levels in placental tissue were also found to be higher in the preterm delivery group of women but the difference did not reach statistically significant levels. This foremost study from India with modest samples size and limited statistical power does not show a substantial involvement of PAHs with preterm delivery, but higher concentrations of placental PAHs detected among preterm delivery group of women could show some possible association with these environmental toxicants. Further study with large sample size, controlled for confounders and great statistical power, is reasonable to elucidate the association of PAHs exposure with preterm delivery of women in India.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Toxicology Section, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, P.O. Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India.
authors.forename: Vipul Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Prabhat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Devendra Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Mudiam Mohana
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Krishna Reddy
authors.forename: Mohammed Kaleem
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Javed Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D047929:Term Birth; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons