title: Repeatedly high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and cockroach sensitization among inner-city children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposures to traffic-related air pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been associated with the development and exacerbation of asthma. However, there is limited evidence on whether these pollutants are associated with the development of cockroach sensitization, a strong risk factor for urban asthma. We hypothesized that repeatedly high PAH exposure during childhood would be associated with increased risk of new cockroach sensitization.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of the research being conducted by the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) birth cohort study in New York, a spot urine sample was collected from children at age 5 years (2003-2008) and again at age 9-10 years (2008-2012; n=248) and analyzed for 10 PAH metabolites. Repeatedly high PAH (High-High) exposure was defined as measures above median for age 5 PAH metabolites at both time points. Child blood samples at age 5 and 9 years were analyzed for total, anti-cockroach, mouse, dust mite, cat and dog IgE. Relative risks (RR) were estimated with multivariable modified Poisson regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individual PAH metabolite levels, except for 1-naphthol (1-OH-NAP), increased by 10-60% from age 5 to age 9-10. The prevalence of cockroach sensitization increased from 17.6% (33/188) at age 5 to 33.0% (62/188) at 9 years (p=0.001). After controlling for potential covariates including cockroach sensitization at age 5 in regression analyses, positive associations were found between repeatedly high exposure (High-High) to 1-OH-NAP, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene (3-OH-PHEN), or 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR) and cockroach sensitization at age 9 (p-values<0.05). Compared to Low-Low exposure, the relative risk (RR) [95% CI] with repeatedly high exposure was 1.83 [1.06-3.17] for 1-OH-NAP, 1.54 [1.06-2.23] for 3-OH-PHEN, and 1.59 [1.04-2.43] for 1-OH-PYR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeatedly high levels of urinary PAH metabolites during childhood may increase likelihood of sensitization to cockroach allergen in urban inner-city children at age 9 years.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E-101, 630 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: kj2237@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Kyung Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 3959 Broadway, CHC 7-745, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: sl3230@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lovinsky-Desir
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: mp2217@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perzanowski
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, 722W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: xl26@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E-101, 630 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: cem2184@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E-101, 630 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: eng2113@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E-101, 630 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: dt2339@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torrone
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: zrq4@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sjodin
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: kzl4@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: fpp1@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Frederica P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E-101, 630 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States; Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States; Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E-101, 630 W. 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. Electronic address: rlm14@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Childhood; Cockroach IgE; Inner-city; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Urinary metabolites