title: PAH exposure and oxidative stress indicators of human cohorts exposed to traffic pollution in Lahore city (Pakistan).
abstract: Pollution from road traffic is not only a major source of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) but also a growing problem in the city of Lahore (Pakistan). In this study, we evaluated exposure to traffic-related PAHs, among subjects including traffic police officers (TPs), rickshaw drivers (RKs) shopkeepers working near main roads (SKs) and a control group (CN) for comparative analyses. We monitored the 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as biomarkers of exposure to PAHs and its probable association with catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity as biomarkers of oxidative stress in selected cohorts from the city Lahore. Results showed that median 1-OHP concentration was significantly higher in TPs than CN (med 1.21 vs. 0.51 μmol mol-C(-1) respectively, P=0.046), followed by RKs (0.68 μmol mol-C(-1), P=0.19 vs. CN). Furthermore, GSH, GSHPx, and CAT activities were also higher in exposed subjects than CN, which indicated that they experienced oxidative stress. Similar, but less severe observations were recorded in SKs. Observation of self-reported health status showed that, on the basis of daily time spent in the middle of heavy traffic, TPs and RKs most frequently suffered from adverse head and respiratory symptoms. The study shows that increasing traffic pollution can be associated with important health risk factor not only for the workers in transport industry but also for the public. Finally, the issue of traffic pollution in Lahore city needs to be addressed on priority.
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khansa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qamar
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi-46300, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulfraz
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi-46300, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Asad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.affiliation: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan. Electronic address: r_n_malik2000@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Riffat Naseem
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Malik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010154:Pakistan; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000378:metabolism; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene
keywords: 1-OHP; Lahore, Pakistan; Oxidative stress; Traffic pollution