title: Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites as biomarkers of exposure to traffic-emitted pollutants.
abstract: 1-Nitro-pyrene has been considered a compound specific to diesel combustion emission, while 1- and 2-nitro-napthalene are mainly produced through photochemical conversion of naphthalene released to the atmosphere. Metabolites of these compounds may serve as biomarkers of exposure to traffic related pollutants. We collected urine samples from 111 healthy and non-smoking subjects within (i.e., during the Beijing Olympics) and outside (i.e., before and after the Olympics) a traffic control regime to improve Beijing's air quality. Urines were analyzed for the sum of 1&2-amino-naphthalene (metabolites of 1- and 2-nitro-naphthalene) and 1-amino-pyrene (a metabolite of 1-nitro-pyrene), using an HPLC-fluorescence method. Within the same time periods, PM2.5 mass and constituents were measured, including elemental carbon, sulfate, nitrate, PAHs, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and particle number concentrations. The associations between the urinary metabolites and air pollutants were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. From the pre- to during-Olympic period, 1&2-amino-naphthalene and 1-hydroxy-pyrene decreased by 23% (p=0.066) and 16% (p=0.049), respectively, while there was no change in 1-amino-pyrene (2% increase, p=0.892). From during- to post-Olympic period, 1&2-amino-naphthalene, 1-amino-pyrene and 1-hydroxy-pyrene concentrations increased by 26% (p=0.441), 37% (p=0.355), and 3% (p=0.868), respectively. Furthermore, 1&2-amino-naphthalene and 1-hydroxy-pyrene were associated with traffic related pollutants in a similar lag pattern. 1-amino-pyrene was associated more strongly with diesel combustion products (e.g. PN and elemental carbon) and not affected by season. Time-lag analyses indicate strongest/largest associations occurred 24-72h following exposure. 1&2-amino-naphthalene and 1-hydroxy-pyrene can be used as a biomarker of exposure to general vehicle-emitted pollutants. More data are needed to confirm 1-amino-pyrene as a biomarker of exposure to diesel combustion emissions. Controlling creatinine as an independent variable in the models will provide a moderate adjusting effect on the biomarker analysis.
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment and Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jicheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Peking University, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and the Center for Environmental Health, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kipen
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: David Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.affiliation: Peking University, School of Public Health, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Wan-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Peking University, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and the Center for Environmental Health, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment and Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: junfeng.zhang@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Junfeng Jim
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine*; D000068476:Beijing; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine*; D012621:Seasons; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Biomarkers; Diesel exhaust particles; Exposure assessment; PAH metabolites; Traffic-emitted pollutants