Biomonitoring of Exposure to Urban Pollutants and Oxidative Stress during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Rome Residents

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of traffic on human health comparing biomonitoring data measured during the COVID-19 lockdown, when restrictions led to a 40% reduction in airborne benzene in Rome and a 36% reduction in road traffic, to the same parameters measured in 2021. Methods: Biomonitoring was performed on 49 volunteers, determining the urinary metabolites of the most abundant traffic pollutants, such as benzene and PAHs, and oxidative stress biomarkers by HPLC/MS-MS, 28 elements by ICP/MS and metabolic phenotypes by NMR. Results: Means of s-phenylmercaputric acid (SPMA), metabolites of naphthalene and nitropyrene in 2020 are 20% lower than in 2021, while 1-OH-pyrene was 30% lower. A reduction of 40% for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) and 60% for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) were found in 2020 compared to 2021. The concentrations of B, Co, Cu and Sb in 2021 are significantly higher than in the 2020. NMR untargeted metabolomic analysis identified 35 urinary metabolites. Results show in 2021 a decrease in succinic acid, a product of the Krebs cycle promoting inflammation. Conclusions: Urban pollution due to traffic is partly responsible for oxidative stress of nucleic acids, but other factors also have a role, enhancing the importance of communication about a healthy lifestyle in the prevention of cancer diseases.

Intrahepatic Fat Content and COVID-19 Lockdown in Adults with NAFLD and Metabolic Syndrome

“…On the other hand, oxidative stress is a risk factor for COVID-19 infection [ 40 ]. However, some authors have shown that oxidative stress was reduced due to confinement, as exposure to urban pollutants was reduced [ 41 ]. Therefore, the lack of difference in changes between both groups could be explained by the decrease in external oxidants, such as those related to pollution.…”

Editorial for the Special Issue on “Human Biomonitoring in Health Risk Assessment: Current Practices and Recommendations for the Future”

“…HBM can also be used to assess the impact of management measures taken to reduce external exposures. In their study, Buonaurio et al (2022) [ 15 ] evaluated the effects of traffic on human health comparing biomonitoring data measured during the COVID-19 lockdown, when restrictions led to a 40% reduction in airborne benzene in Rome and a 36% reduction in road traffic, to the same parameters measured in 2021. Their results confirmed a decrease in succinic acid, a product of the Krebs cycle promoting inflammation.…”