Short-term traffic-related exposures and biomarkers of nitro-PAH exposure and oxidative DNA damage

Abstract

Exposure to vehicle exhaust has been associated with cardiac and respiratory disease, lung cancer and greater overall mortality. We investigated whether amino-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (amino-PAH) metabolites of nitro-PAHs could be used as biomarkers of these exposures. Pre- and post-shift urine samples were collected at the beginning and end of a work week from 82 male U.S. trucking industry workers. We used repeated-measures analysis to examine associations of total 1-and 2-aminonaphthalene (1 & 2-AN) and 1-aminopyrene (1-AP) urinary concentrations with microenvironment exposures to particulate matter (PM2.5), elemental and organic carbon and between 1 & 2-AN and 1-AP with urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). There was an association between work week mean PM2.5 levels and post-shift 1 & 2-AN (141.8 pg/mL increase (95% CI: 53.3, 230.2) for each IQR increase (5.54 μg/m3) in PM2.5), but no associations with other exposure measures. There was a statistically significant increase in 8-OHdG concentrations with 1 & 2-AN (2.38 μg/mg creatinine (95% CI: 0.19, 4.58) per 242.85 pg/mg creatinine increase in 1 & 2-AN) and suggestive associations with all other exposure measures. Our findings suggest associations between urinary amino-PAHs with vehicle exhaust-related PM2.5, as well as with a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage.