Ayman Alhamdow1, Anna Zettergren1, Inger Kull2, Jenny Hallberg3, Niklas Andersson1, Sandra Ekström4, Marika Berglund1, Craig E Wheelock5, Yona J Essig6, Annette M Krais6, Antonios Georgelis4, Christian H Lindh6, Erik Melén2, Anna Bergström7. 1. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children's and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children's and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, SE, 11365, Stockholm, Sweden. 5. Division of Physiological Chemistry 2, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77, Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Karolinska University Hospital, SE, 17165, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE, 22363, Lund, Sweden. 7. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, SE, 11365, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.bergstrom@ki.se.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been linked to adverse pulmonary effects. However, the impact of low-level environmental PAH exposure on lung function in early adulthood remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the associations between urinary PAH metabolites and lung function parameters in young adults. METHODS: Urinary metabolites of pyrene, phenanthrene, and fluorene were analysed in 1000 young adults from Sweden (age 22-25 years) using LC-MS/MS. Lung function and eosinophilic airway inflammation were measured by spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO), respectively. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between PAH metabolites and the outcomes. RESULTS: Median urinary concentrations of 1-OH-pyrene, ∑OH-phenanthrene, and ∑OH-fluorene were 0.066, 0.36, 0.22 μg/L, respectively. We found inverse associations of ∑OH-phenanthrene and ∑OH-fluorene with FEV1 and FVC, as well as between 1-OH-pyrene and FEV1/FVC ratio (adjusted P < 0.05; all participants). An increase of 1% in ∑OH-fluorene was associated with a decrease of 73 mL in FEV1 and 59 mL in FVC. In addition, ∑OH-phenanthrene concentrations were, in a dose-response manner, inversely associated with FEV1 (B from -109 to -48 compared with the lowest quartile of ∑OH-phenanthrene; p trend 0.004) and FVC (B from -159 to -102 compared with lowest quartile; p-trend <0.001). Similar dose-response associations were also observed between ∑OH-fluorene and FEV1 and FVC, as well as between 1-OH-pyrene and FEV1/FVC (p-trend <0.05). There was no association between PAH exposure and FeNO, nor was there an interaction with smoking, sex, or asthma. CONCLUSION: Low-level PAH exposure was, in a dose-response manner, associated with reduced lung function in young adults. Our findings have public health implications due to i) the widespread occurrence of PAHs in the environment and ii) the clinical relevance of lung function in predicting all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been linked to adverse pulmonary effects. However, the impact of low-level environmental PAH exposure on lung function in early adulthood remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the associations between urinary PAH metabolites and lung function parameters in young adults. METHODS: Urinary metabolites of pyrene, phenanthrene, and fluorene were analysed in 1000 young adults from Sweden (age 22-25 years) using LC-MS/MS. Lung function and eosinophilic airway inflammation were measured by spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO), respectively. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between PAH metabolites and the outcomes. RESULTS: Median urinary concentrations of 1-OH-pyrene, ∑OH-phenanthrene, and ∑OH-fluorene were 0.066, 0.36, 0.22 μg/L, respectively. We found inverse associations of ∑OH-phenanthrene and ∑OH-fluorene with FEV1 and FVC, as well as between 1-OH-pyrene and FEV1/FVC ratio (adjusted P < 0.05; all participants). An increase of 1% in ∑OH-fluorene was associated with a decrease of 73 mL in FEV1 and 59 mL in FVC. In addition, ∑OH-phenanthrene concentrations were, in a dose-response manner, inversely associated with FEV1 (B from -109 to -48 compared with the lowest quartile of ∑OH-phenanthrene; p trend 0.004) and FVC (B from -159 to -102 compared with lowest quartile; p-trend <0.001). Similar dose-response associations were also observed between ∑OH-fluorene and FEV1 and FVC, as well as between 1-OH-pyrene and FEV1/FVC (p-trend <0.05). There was no association between PAH exposure and FeNO, nor was there an interaction with smoking, sex, or asthma. CONCLUSION: Low-level PAH exposure was, in a dose-response manner, associated with reduced lung function in young adults. Our findings have public health implications due to i) the widespread occurrence of PAHs in the environment and ii) the clinical relevance of lung function in predicting all-cause and cardiovascular diseasemortality.
Authors: Henriqueta Louro; Bruno Costa Gomes; Anne Thoustrup Saber; Anna Laura Iamiceli; Thomas Göen; Kate Jones; Andromachi Katsonouri; Christiana M Neophytou; Ulla Vogel; Célia Ventura; Axel Oberemm; Radu Corneliu Duca; Mariana F Fernandez; Nicolas Olea; Tiina Santonen; Susana Viegas; Maria João Silva Journal: Toxics Date: 2022-08-17
Authors: Louise Gren; Annette M Krais; Eva Assarsson; Karin Broberg; Malin Engfeldt; Christian Lindh; Bo Strandberg; Joakim Pagels; Maria Hedmer Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2022-03-16 Impact factor: 2.851
Authors: Annette M Krais; Julie Y Essig; Louise Gren; Carolina Vogs; Eva Assarsson; Katrin Dierschke; Jörn Nielsen; Bo Strandberg; Joakim Pagels; Karin Broberg; Christian H Lindh; Anders Gudmundsson; Aneta Wierzbicka Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-16 Impact factor: 3.390