The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urine of non-smoking Polish pregnant women.
The aim of this study was to characterize the PAH exposure level among the non-smoking Polish pregnant women and to identify the minimal set of PAH metabolites that specifically reflect environmental PAH exposure. The study population consisted of 210 non-smoking pregnant women. The urine sample was used for analysis of the following PAH metabolites: 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 9-OH-PHE), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR), 1,6+1,8-dihydroxypyrene (DI-OH-PYR), phenanthrene trans-1,2-dihydrodiol (PHE-1,2-diol) and phenanthrene trans-9,10-dihydrodiol (PHE-9,10-diol). The analysis of all the biomarkers was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after their derivatization. The mean PAH metabolite concentrations were in the range of 0.15 (± 0.2) μg/g creatinine for 9-OH-PHE to 5.9 (± 10.6) μg/g creatinine for PHE-9,10-diol. Women living in the city center had higher concentrations of 1-OH-PHE (β=0.6; p=0.04), 3-OH-PHE (β=0.8; p=0.02), 9-OH-PHE (β=0.9; p=0.02), and DI-OH-PYR (β=1.0; p=0.006) than those living outside the city center. The usage of coal for residential heating was a significant predictor of all PAH metabolites except for 9-OH-PHE (p=0.1) and PHE-9,10-diol (p=0.08). With the increasing cotinine levels we observed a significant increase in the concentrations of the following PAH metabolites: 3-OH-PHE (β=0.2; p=0.007), 4-OH-PHE (β=0.3; p=0.002), PHE-1,2-diol (β=0.3; p<0.001), 1-OH-PYR (β=0.2; p=0.01). High-density housing, usage of coal for residential heating, cotinine level in saliva, season of urine collection and distance from the place of residence to the main road explained 26% of the variance of 3-OH-PHE and 21% of the variance of 1-OH-PHE. 2-OH-PHE, 3-OH-PHE, 9-OH-PHE and PHE-9,10-diol are sufficient to predict environmental PAH exposure. The urinary PAH biomarker levels found in this study indicate that non-smoking Polish pregnant women suffer from a higher PAH exposure than those in other western countries. This higher PAH exposure level probably poses a significant health risk for the newborns and young children and will require further attention in the future.
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 8 Teresy Str., 91-348 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: kinga@imp.lodz.pl.
Kinga
K
Polanska
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 8 Teresy Str., 91-348 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: wojt@imp.lodz.pl.
Wojciech
W
Hanke
Biochemical Institute for Environmental Carcinogens, Prof. Dr. Gernot Grimmer-Foundation, 4 Lurup Str., D-22927 Grosshansdorf, Germany. Electronic address: gerhard.dettbarn@biu-grimmer.de.
Gerhard
G
Dettbarn
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 8 Teresy Str., 91-348 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: wojteksobala@wp.pl.
Wojciech
W
Sobala
Department of Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 8 Teresy Str., 91-348 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: jola@imp.lodz.pl.
Jolanta
J
Gromadzinska
Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Per.Magnus@fhi.no.
Per
P
Magnus
Biochemical Institute for Environmental Carcinogens, Prof. Dr. Gernot Grimmer-Foundation, 4 Lurup Str., D-22927 Grosshansdorf, Germany. Electronic address: albrecht.seidel@biu-grimmer.de.
Albrecht
A
Seidel
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Environmental tobacco smoke exposure; High-density housing; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Pregnancy; Traffic; Use of coal for residential heating