title: Modulation of the effect of prenatal PAH exposure on PAH-DNA adducts in cord blood by plasma antioxidants.
abstract: The fetus is more susceptible than the adult to the effects of certain carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Nutritional factors, including antioxidants, have been shown to have a protective effect on carcinogen-DNA adducts and cancer risk in adults. We investigated whether the effect of prenatal airborne PAH exposure, measured by personal air monitoring during pregnancy, on the level of PAH-DNA adducts in a baby's cord blood is modified by the concentration of micronutrients in maternal and cord blood. The micronutrients examined were: retinol (vitamin A), alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol (vitamin E), and carotenoids. With the use of multiple linear regression, we found a significant interaction between prenatal PAH exposure and cord blood concentration of alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids in predicting the concentration of PAH adducts in cord blood. The association between PAH exposure and PAH adducts was much stronger among those with low alpha-tocopherol (beta = 0.15; P = 0.001) and among those with low carotenoids (beta = 0.16; P < 0.001) compared with babies with high levels of these micronutrients (among those with high alpha-tocopherol: beta = 0.05; P = 0.165; among those with high carotenoids: beta = 0.06; P = 0.111). These results suggest a protective effect of micronutrients on the DNA damage and potential cancer risk associated with prenatal PAH exposure.
authors: Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Kelvin
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Edwards
authors: Wieslaw
authors: W
authors: Jedrychowski
authors: Rosemary L
authors: RL
authors: Schleicher
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Camann
authors: Deliang
authors: D
authors: Tang
authors: Frederica P
authors: FP
authors: Perera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018736:DNA Adducts; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C095911:polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-DNA adduct