title: Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biomarkers and diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study is to investigate the association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of environmental pollutants, with diabetes mellitus. Animal studies link PAHs to inflammation and subsequent development of diabetes mellitus. In addition, occupational studies suggest that exposure to other aromatic hydrocarbons such as dioxins may be associated with diabetes risk in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined participants from the merged National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. Exposures of interest were eight urinary monohydroxy-PAHs. Our outcome was diabetes mellitus defined as a glycohemoglobin level (HbA1c) ≥6.5%, a self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes or use of oral hypoglycaemic medication or insulin. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, race, alcohol consumption, poverty-income ratio, total cholesterol and serum cotinine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a positive association between urinary biomarkers of 1 and 2-hydroxynapthol, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene and summed low molecular weight (LMW) PAH biomarkers, and diabetes mellitus. Compared with participants with summed LMW PAH biomarkers in the lowest quartile, the multivariable-adjusted OR of diabetes mellitus among those in the highest quartile was 3.1 (95% CI 1.6 to 5.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary biomarkers of 1 and 2-hydroxynapthol, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene and summed LMW PAH biomarkers are associated with diabetes mellitus in US adults 20-65 years of age. The association of a one-time biomarker of PAH exposure has limitations commonly associated with cross-sectional studies, yet is consistent with experimental animal data and is worthy of additional consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University School of Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Omayma
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alshaarawy
authors.forename: Motao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ducatman
authors.forename: Baqiyyah
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Andrew
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000652:urine*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons