title: Biomarkers of PAH exposure and hematologic effects in subjects exposed to combustion emission during residential (and professional) cooking practices in Pakistan.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the exposure of household women and professional male workers to combustion emission in the indoor and semi-outdoor environments, respectively, by using biochemical parameters and the biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Female (WR n = 60) and male "cooks" (WC n = 60) exposed to the combustion emission of fuel wood and coal in rural/suburban areas of Pakistan were recruited in this study and compared to non-exposed female (CF) and male (CM) groups (n = 32 and 34, respectively). Urinary biomarkers of PAH exposure including 1-hyroxypyrene (1-OHPyr), α-naphthol, and β-naphthol were analyzed together with the biomarkers of effect, including the serum c-reactive proteins (CRP), white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), and platelet (PLT) count. In addition, blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) and urinary level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were evaluated to determine the oxidative stress and DNA damage, respectively. A questionnaire was used to document demographic-, health-, and exposure-related information. The results showed that urinary β-naphthol was almost 44% higher in WR subjects than WC (median 7.69 vs. 3.39 μmol/mol-Cr, respectively; p = 0.01) and respective controls (CF). Higher urinary 8-OHdG were observed in WR (71.1 ng/mg-Cr) than WC (56.37 ng/mg-Cr) (p < 0.001), and lower life status and higher degree of headache were observed in WR than WC. In WCs, however, a low Hb and high WBC (8.29 × 10(3) μL(-1), ranging between 6.1 and 10.6 × 10(3) μL(-1)) were observed in comparison with CM. The study shows that WC subjects used larger amount of fuel and were subjected to prolonged exposure. It was concluded that the role of ventilation is fundamental and WR were more exposed to PAHs despite the fact that WC spent more time in cooking (due to occupational requirement) than WR.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan. dr.atifkamal@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.|CNR, Istituto per la Dinamica dei Processi Ambientali, Via Dorsoduro 2137, 30123, Venezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cincinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martellini
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan. r_n_malik2000@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Riffat Naseem
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Malik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis; D003296:Cooking / Q000295:instrumentation; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010154:Pakistan; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003031:Coal; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: 1-Hydroxypyrene; 8-OHdG; Combustion emission; Hemoglobin; Hydroxypyrene; Indoor air pollution; Pakistan; SOD; Traditional cook stove