title: Association of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and serum C-reactive protein.
abstract: The association of 9 urinary monohydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was investigated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004. The unweighted number of participants included was 999, which represented 139,362,776 persons in the non-institutionalized US population. In adjusted logistic regressions, two OH-PAHs, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene and 9-hydroxyfluorene, were associated with elevated CRP (>3mg/l). Logistic regressions were adjusted for age, gender, race, exercise, body mass index, smoking status, diabetes, and hypertension. 2-Hydroxyphenanthrene >148ng/g creatinine had an odds ratio of 3.17 (95% CI 1.73-5.81) compared to 2-hydroxyphenanthrene < or =48ng/g creatinine, and 9-hydroxyfluorene >749ng/g creatinine had an odds ratio of 2.28 (95% CI 1.08-4.83) compared to 9-hydroxyfluorene < or =160ng/g creatinine. Intermediate levels of 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (49-148ng/g creatinine), and 9-hydroxyfluorene (161-749ng/g creatinine) were also significantly associated with elevated CRP compared to the respective reference categories. In a combined analysis, OH-PAHs were classified as low, medium, and high. Low OH-PAH was 2-hydroxyphenanthrene < or =48ng/g creatinine and 9-hydroxyfluorene < or =160ng/g creatinine. High OH-PAH was 2-hydroxyphenanthrene >148ng/g creatinine or 9-hydroxyfluorene >749ng/g creatinine. Participants not assigned to the low or high categories were classified as having medium OH-PAH concentrations. Compared to the low OH-PAH group, high OH-PAH had an odds ratio of 3.60 (95% CI 2.01-6.46) in an adjusted logistic regression. Given that inflammation (characterized here by CRP) is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, these results suggest a role for OH-PAHs in the progression of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 295 Calhoun Street, MSC 192, Charleston, SC 29425-1920, USA. everettc@musc.edu
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Everett
authors.forename: Dana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Marty S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Player
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Matheson
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: Arch G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mainous
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine*; D044967:Serum; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D002097:C-Reactive Protein