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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins/Dibenzofurans in Microliter Samples of Human
Xiaoyan Xia1, Alesia Carroll-Haddad, Nicole Brown
1Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science (Dr Xia, Ms Carroll-Haddad, and Dr Hopke), Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York; ALS Life Sciences Division, Environmental (Ms Brown), Houston, Texas; Departments of Medicine and Environmental Medicine (Dr Utell), University of Rochester Medical Center, New York; Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Dr Mallon), 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Objective:
The objectives were: 1) measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 100 μL of human serum and 2) assess PAH and PCDD/PCDF as markers of burn pit exposures during military deployments.
Methods:
PAHs and PCDDs/PCDFs were analyzed in 100 μL serum samples collected pre- and post-deployment from 200 persons deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (CASE); 200 persons not deployed (CONTROL) with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
Results:
Naphthalene was found in ∼83% of the samples and was statistically different between post-deployment CASE personnel and pre-deployment. 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 1,2,3,7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzofuran, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzofuran were found in ∼38% of samples. Concentrations were significantly different between CASE and CONTROL and between pre- and post-deployment samples.
Conclusions:
PAH and PCDD/PCDF in serum can serve as exposure markers and measurements in small volumes is feasible for quantifying exposure to burn pits.
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