Urinary PAH Metabolites as Biomarkers of Environmental PAHs Exposure

The aim of the study was to see if there is any differences in urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) and 2-naphthol levels in children (8~14 years old) and their mothers (30~46 years old) living three cities in South Korea (Seoul, Incheon and Pohang) and three in China (Changchun, Datong and Kunming), where the levels of air pollution varies. The factors related with urinary biomarkers levels were also evaluated. The study subjects consisted of 118 Korean (60 children and 58 their mothers) and 120 Chinese (60 children and 60 their mothers). Urinary 1-OHPG was measured by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy after immuno-affinity purification using monoclonal antibody 8E11 and urinary 2-naphthol concentrations were determined by HPLC with fluorescence detector. Information on recent consumption of diet containing high PAHs, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), type of cooking and heating fuels, and other life-style characteristics were collected by self-administered questionnaire. The arithmetic mean of urinary 1-OHPG levels (n = 120, mean ± SD, 6.77 ± 7.96 μmol/mol creatinine) in Chinese were 10 fold higher than those in Korean (n = 118, 0.62 ± 0.61 μmol/mol creatinine) (P less than 0.01). Urinary 2-naphthol levels in Chinese (n = 119, 59.50 ± 82.29 ㎍/g creatinine) were significantly higher than those in Korean (n = 117, 25.09 ± 46.56 ㎍/g creatinine) (P less than 0.01). Urinary 1-OHPG and 2-naphthol levels were significantly higher in children living the polluted cities in China (Datong and Chanchun, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that living in factory area (vs. residential area) and use of coal stove as heating fuel were significant predictors for urinary 1-OHPG (overall model R² = 0.46, n = 204). And ETS was predictor for urinary 2-naphthol levels in Korean (R² = 0.36, n = 46). These results indicated that urinary 1-OHPG and 2-naphthol levels were related with different ambient particulate air pollution, type of heating fuels and ETS.