Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites levels in a representative sample of the Spanish adult population: The BIOAMBIENT.ES project. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bartolomé, Mónica; Ramos, Juan José; Cutanda, Francisco; Huetos, Olga; Esteban, Marta; Ruiz-Moraga, Montserrat; Calvo, Eva; Pérez-Gómez, Beatriz; González, Oscar; Castaño, Argelia
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 135(2015)
• Page Start: 436
• Page End: 446
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon -- 1-HP 1-hydroxypyrene -- PHh hydroxyphenanthrene -- SPE solid phased extraction -- HPLC-FD high resolution liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection -- LOQ limit of quantification -- LOD limit of detection -- GM geometric mean -- CI confidence intervals -- SHS second hand smoke -- BMI body mass index.; Human Biomonitoring -- PAH urinary metabolites -- 1-Hydroxypyrene -- Hydroxyphenanthrene -- Spain; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.12.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Highlights: A nationwide Human Biomonitoring survey on PAH exposure performed in Spanish adults. 1-Hydroxypyrene and hydroxyphenanthrenes were used as biomarkers of PAH exposure. The influence of lifestyle and personal features on PAH body burden were assessed. For the first time, reference values of these biomarkers were established in Spain. Levels were in the same range or lower than those reported in neighboring countries. Abstract: In 2009, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment promoted the BIOAMBIENT.ES project, a Human Biomonitoring program on the national scale to estimate reference levels of environmental pollutants on a representative sample of the Spanish adults. The present study focuses on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The urinary metabolites 1-hydroxypyrene, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene were selected as indicators of PAH exposure. Urine samples from 957 subjects (16–65 years old) were collected during year 2009–2010. Geometric mean and 95th percentile for 1-hydroxypyrene in μg g −1 creatinine were 0.117 (non-smoker: 0.079, smokers: 0.184) and 0.67 μg g −1 creatinine (non-smokers: 0.31, smokers: 0.69) respectively. GM and 95th percentile for sum of hydroxyphenanthrenes in μg g −1 creatinine were 0.130 (non-smokers: 0.089, smokers: 0.317) and 1.29 (non-smokers: 0.71, smokers: 1.51) respectively. 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was below the limit of quantitation (0.05 μg L −1 ) in all cases. Significant differences ( p < 0.05) regarding smokers and non-smokers, coal and wood heating, body mass index and second hand smoke were found, while other variables like gender, age, or diet showed no significant association. The geographical distribution of the metabolites showed higher levels in people who lived in the north and northwest of Spain. The PAH metabolites levels found were in the same range or lower than those reported from other European countries and they were higher than those found in the U.S. This study represents the first nationwide survey of exposure to PAHs in Spain and provides a background reference range for exposure to PAHs in the Spanish adult occupied population.