Predictors of personal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposures among pregnant minority women in New York City.

Abstract

As part of a multiyear birth-cohort study examining the roles of pre-and postnatal environmental exposures on developmental deficits and asthma among children, we measured personal exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among 348 pregnant women in northern Manhattan and the South Bronx, New York. Nonsmoking African-American or Dominican women were identified and recruited into the study. During the third trimester of pregnancy, each subject wore a personal air monitor for 48 hr to determine exposure levels to nine PAH compounds. In this study, we examined levels of exposures to PAHs and tested for associations with potential predictor variables collected from questionnaires addressing socioeconomic factors and day-to-day activities during pregnancy as well as activities and environmental exposures during the 48-hr monitoring period. Reliable personal monitoring data for women who did not smoke during the monitoring period were available for 344 of 348 subjects. Mean PAH concentrations ranged from 0.06 ng/m 3 for dibenz[a,h]anthracene to 4.1 ng/m 3 for pyrene; mean benzo[a]pyrene concentration was 0.50 ng/m 3 . As found in previous studies, concentrations of most PAHs were higher in winter than in summer. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed associations between personal PAH exposures and several questionnaire variables, including time spent outdoors, residential heating, and indoor burning of incense. This is the largest study to date characterizing personal exposures to PAHs, a ubiquitous class of carcinogenic air contaminants in urban environments, and is unique in its focus on pregnant minority women.

Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution, Maternal Psychological Distress, and Child Behavior

“…Although Krakow has relatively high ambient concentrations of PAHs from coalburning, levels are within the range seen in other urban areas worldwide. [56][57][58][59] Mechanisms by which stressors such as material hardship, PAHs, or their combination exert effects on the developing brain are not well understood. However, laboratory studies have identified changes in N-methyl-Daspartate receptor expression, reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA, 6 and epigenetic changes 60,61 in response to stress.…”

Predictors of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among pregnant women — Prospective cohort study in Poland

“…The analysis of the predictors of personal PAH exposures was performed by Tonne et al [7]. In that study the personal exposure of 344 women from NYC ranged from 0.06 ng/m 3 for dibenz [a,h]anthracene (DahA) to 4.1 ng/m 3 for pyrene.…”

“…The published data evaluated the PAH exposure among pregnant women mostly based on personal air monitoring or PAH-DNA adduct levels. Detailed analysis of environmental exposure to PAH derived from US and Polish cohorts of pregnant women shows that personal PAH exposure was 10-fold higher in Kraków than in New York City (NYC) (average: 39.1 ng/m The studies have indicated that diesel fuel combustion contributes to ambient PAH in NYC, whereas coal burning in small furnaces is a major source of PAH in Kraków [7,8].The analysis of the predictors of personal PAH exposures was performed by Tonne et al [7]. In that study the personal exposure of 344 women from NYC ranged from 0.06 ng/m 3 for dibenz [a,h]anthracene (DahA) to 4.1 ng/m 3 for pyrene.…”

“…Detailed analysis of environmental exposure to PAH derived from US and Polish cohorts of pregnant women shows that personal PAH exposure was 10- ; range: 0.3-36.5 ng/m 3 for NYC Dominicans) [6]. The studies have indicated that diesel fuel combustion contributes to ambient PAH in NYC, whereas coal burning in small furnaces is a major source of PAH in Kraków [7,8].…”

Estimating Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A Comparison of Survey, Biological Monitoring, and Geographic Information System–Based Methods

“…Personal air monitoring of women in New York City found that pyrene had the highest mean concentration among the PAHs measured (22). Personal air monitoring for PAHs is difficult and expensive and does not capture exposure from dietary sources, making development of a good biological exposure marker highly desirable.…”