Objective To evaluate the exposure levels of prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Taiyuan, with urinary 2-hydroxynathalene (2-NAP), 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-FLU), 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-PHE), and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-PYR) as biomarkers, thus explore if the exposure levels are influenced by passive smoking.
Methods Pregnant women (n=287) admitted to a hospital for delivery were recruited and inquired about the living and working conditions during the period of April 2009 to April 2010 in Taiyuan. A total of 264 pregnant women joined the study and were divided into three groups according to the passive smoking index (0, 1-49, ≥ 50 groups). The urine samples of the selected pregnant women were collected before delivery and four urinary PAHs metabolites (OH-PAHs) were measured by high performance lipid chromatography-fluorescence detection.
Results 2-NAP, 2-FLU, 9-PHE, and 1-PYR were detected in the urine of involved pregnant women, and the median concentrations were 0.47, 0.24, 0.23, and 0.10 μg/mmol Cr respectively. The differences were statistically significant in urinary concentrations of 2-NAP, 2-FLU, and 1-PYR among the three groups (P < 0.05). However, 9-PHE showed no significant difference. Several factors were found to have critical influences on four urinary OH-PAHs, such as passive smoking, using coal stove, heating period, living near garages and gas stations by multiple linear regression.
Conclusion Passive smoking might contribute to elevated levels of four urinary OH-PAHs, of which 2-NAP is the best marker for evaluating maternal prenatal PAHs exposure levels associated with passive smoking.
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