Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Research Article

Relationship between residence characteristics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in housewives: second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014): Hyung-Gue Park, Na-Young Ha, Dae Hwan Kim, Jeong-Ho Kim, Chae-Kwan Lee, Kunhyung Kim, Ji Young Ryu; Ann Occup Environ Med 2018;30:23. Published online April 18, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0236-x

Background

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced by incomplete combustion have negative effects on human health due to their carcinogenicity and teratogenicity. Indoor sources of PAHs include tobacco smoke, heating sources, and cooking. This study evaluated the relationship between human PAH exposure and residence characteristics.

Method

This study was based on the second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014). Non-smoking housewives were included in the analyses (n = 1269). The concentrations of urinary PAH metabolites (2-naphthol, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene) were adjusted by urine creatinine level. The geometric mean concentrations of urinary PAH metabolites by residential factors were examined. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between residential variables and PAH exposures.

Results

The adjusted geometric mean concentrations of urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene were significantly higher in the group residing within 100 m of a major road (p < 0.05) than in those residing > 100 m from a major road. In logistic regression analyses, the odds ratio (OR) for exceeding the third quartile of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration was significantly higher in the group using coal or wood fuel for residential heating than in the group using gas (OR = 2.745, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.295–5.819). The detached house group had a significantly higher OR for 1-hydroxyphenanthrene compared with the apartment group (OR = 1.515, 95% CI = 1.023–2.243).

Conclusion

Our study shows the evidence of associations between some urinary PAH metabolite levels (1-hydroxyphenanthrene and 1-hydroxypyrene) and residence characteristics. Additional studies are needed to clarify these associations.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Association of mixed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure with oxidative stress in Korean adults
Ji Young Ryu, Dong Hyun Hong
Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Characterization of the internal working-life exposome using minimally and non-invasive sampling methods - a narrative review
Eline Verscheure, Rob Stierum, Vivi Schlünssen, Anne Mette Lund Würtz, Dorian Vanneste, Manolis Kogevinas, Barbara N. Harding, Karin Broberg, Shan Zienolddiny-Narui, Johanna Samulin Erdem, Mrinal K. Das, Konstantinos C. Makris, Corina Konstantinou, Xanthi
Environmental Research.2023; 238: 117001. CrossRef
Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on pregnancy, placenta, and placental trophoblasts
Yifeng Dai, Xijin Xu, Xia Huo, Marijke M. Faas
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.2023; 262: 115314. CrossRef
Relationship between urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter: A case-control study in non-occupational populations
Boying Liu, Yanyan Chen, Siyao Li, Yuanyuan Xu, Yi Wang
Environmental Pollution.2021; 269: 116158. CrossRef
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon: environmental sources, associations with altered lung function and potential mechanisms
Li-Min Cao, Ge Mu, Wei-Hong Chen
Chinese Medical Journal.2020; 133(13): 1603. CrossRef
Distribution, sources and health risk of PAHs in urban air-conditioning dust from Hefei, East China
Mengchen Shen, Guijian Liu, Hao Yin, Li Zhou
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.2020; 194: 110442. CrossRef
Association between urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and hypertension in the Korean population: data from the Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014)
Tae-Woo Lee, Dae Hwan Kim, Ji Young Ryu
Scientific Reports.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Comparison of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Exposure Across Occupations Using Urinary Metabolite 1-Hydroxypyrene
Dong-Hee Koh, Ju-Hyun Park, Sang-Gil Lee, Hwan-Cheol Kim, Sangjun Choi, Hyejung Jung, Donguk Park
Annals of Work Exposures and Health.2020; 64(4): 445. CrossRef

182 View
0 Download
9 Web of Science
8 Crossref

Review

The standards for recognition of occupational cancers related with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Korea: Tae-Won Jang, Yangho Kim, Jong-Uk Won, Jong-Seong Lee, Jaechul Song; Ann Occup Environ Med 2018;30:13. Published online February 26, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0224-1

Abstract PDF PubReader

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen. PAHs have carcinogenicity in human. Cancers related with PAHs include cancers of lung, skin, bladder, and others. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined several occupations that can be exposure to PAHs were probable carcinogens to human. National Toxicology Program (NTP) classified coal tars and coal tar pitches, and coke oven emissions as known to human carcinogens, and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified coke oven emissions as human carcinogen.

PAHs can be produced both naturally and artificially. Sources of occupational exposure include coal gasification, coke production, coal tar distillation, aluminium production, and so on. Diesel exhaust emission contains large amount of PAHs. Cigarette smoking also contains many PAHs, which is the important source of environmental source of PAHs.

The evaluation for work-relatedness and standards for recognition of occupational cancers should focus on occupations that can be exposed to PAHs. In Korea, standards for recognition of occupational cancers related with PAHs are following: lung cancers related with more than 10 years exposure to coal tar pitch, lung and skin cancers related with soot exposure, and skin cancers related with more than 10 years exposure to coal tar. When applying these standards, occupations that can be exposed to PAHs should be focused on. In addition, latent period for solid cancer should be considered. In addition to these occupations, diesel engine combustion and firefighters can be exposed to PAHs.

74 View
4 Download
5 Web of Science

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search