Serum polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among children with and without asthma: correlation to environmental and
1College of Science Biochemistry Department, King Saud University Riyadh, KSA. aldaghri2000@hotmail.com
Insights
Children exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) face health risks. This study found higher PAH levels in children with smokers at home and increased meat intake, highlighting key exposure pathways.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Children from low-income families are at risk of high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, potentially leading to respiratory disorders.
- Assessing total PAH exposure in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children is crucial for understanding health impacts.
- Identifying environmental pathways of PAH exposure is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop methods for assessing total PAH exposure in children from low-income families.
- To measure serum PAH concentrations in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children.
- To determine the relative importance of different environmental pathways for PAH exposure.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study included 75 Saudi children (15 years and below).
- Participants completed a questionnaire including dietary questions.
- Serum PAH levels were quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection.
Main Results:
- Asthmatic children showed significantly elevated serum naphthalene and pyrene levels.
- Non-asthmatic children had higher serum levels of acenaphthylene, fluorine, and 1,2-benzanthracene.
- Family smoking and meat consumption significantly correlated with specific serum PAH concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Serum PAH levels in children are significantly associated with meat intake and the presence of smokers in the household.
- Public health initiatives should focus on educating parents about reducing indoor smoking and limiting children's intake of grilled/smoked meats.
- These measures can decrease children's exposure to carcinogenic PAH and mitigate associated health risks.
Background:
Children from low-income families may be subject to high exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which can lead to respiratory disorders. This study aims to establish methods for assessing total PAH exposure of asthmatic and non-asthmatic children from low-income families; to estimate serum PAH concentrations of these children, and to estimate the relative importance of the environmental pathways for PAH exposure.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 75 (61 asthmatic, 14 non-asthmatic) Saudi children 15 years old and below were included to participate in this cross-sectional study. Each participant answered a generalized questionnaire with dietary questions. Serum PAH were measured using HPLC with UV detection.
Results:
Serum naphthalene and pyrene were significantly elevated among asthmatic children (p-values = 0.007 and 0.01, respectively). Serum acenaphthylene, fluorine and 1,2-benzanthracene, on the other hand, were significantly higher among non-asthmatics (p-values = 0.001, 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the presence of a smoker in the family and serum concentrations of carbazole, pyrene, 1,2-benzanthracene and benzacephenanthrylene (R = 0.37, 0.45, 0.43, 0.33; p-values = 0.01, 0.0002, 0.003 and 0.025, respectively). Significant correlations were elicited between daily meat intake and serum levels of acenaphthylene, benzopyrene and 1,2-benzanthracene (R = 0.27, 0.27, 0.33; p-values = 0.02 and < 0.001, respectively).
Conclusion:
Among the children, serum PAH were significantly correlated to meat intake as well as presence of smokers at home. Public health awareness should be enhanced by educating parents to take certain precautions at home, such as preventing indoor smoking and reducing the intake of grilled and smoked meat by children so as to decrease their exposure to carcinogenic PAH.
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