title: Linking mobile source-PAHs and biological effects in traffic police officers and drivers in Rawalpindi (Pakistan).
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of traffic related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on blood parameters of subjects, including traffic police officers (TP), drivers (DR) and control subjects (CN) with presumably different levels of exposure. We quantified the urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr), α-naphthol and β-naphthol (α- and β-naph) as biomarkers of exposure to PAHs in relation with biomarkers of effect (Hb, MCV, PCV, PLT, RBCs), biomarkers of inflammation/infection (CRP, WBCs), oxidative stress (SOD) and oxidative DNA damage i.e. 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Results showed that mean 1-OHPyr, α-naph and β-naph concentrations were significantly higher in TPs (0.98, 1.55, and 1.9µmolmol-Cr(-1), respectively, p<0.05) than CNs (0.7, 0.6; 0.67µmolmol-Cr(-1), respectively, P<0.05). Furthermore, WBC and CRP were found in higher concentrations in TPs than CNs (7.04×10(3)µL(-1) and 0.95mgL(-1) vs. 5.1×10(3)µL(-1) and 0.54mgL(-1), respectively). The urinary 8-OHdG level, a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, was higher in TPs than both CN and DR subjects (48ngmg-Cr(-1), 24ngmg-Cr(-1) and 33ngmg-Cr(-1), respectively). Self-reported health assessment indicates that, on the basis of daily time spent in the middle of heavy traffic, TPs and DRs more frequently suffered from adverse head and respiratory symptoms. The PCA analysis evidenced the impact of traffic pollution on exposure biomarkers and DNA damage. The study suggests that traffic pollution may be associated with important health risk, in particular on the respiratory system, not only for workers exposed to traffic exhausts but also for general public. Finally, vehicular air pollution in the city of Rawalpindi should be a high-priority concern for the Pakistan Government that needs to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology 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: Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 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, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 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. Electronic address: r_n_malik2000@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Riffat Naseem
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Malik
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001334:Automobile Driving; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002947:Cities; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010154:Pakistan; D016495:Police; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003849:Deoxyguanosine
keywords: 1-OHPyr; Clinico-chemical implications; DNA damage; Oxidative stress; Pakistan; Traffic pollution