Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in placenta

Abstract

<jats:p> Concentrations of chrysene, benz [a I anthracene, benzo [a I -pyrene, benzo [h lfluoranthene, indeno [1,2,3 -c,d] pyrene, dibenz [ a,h I anthracene, and benzo [g,h,i] perylene were measured in placentas from 200 women from two cities in Ukraine, Kyiv and Dniprodzerzhinsk. The participants had no special exposures and were chosen from among subjects in an ongoing study of reproductive health. All seven of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were found in all placentas, with the sole exception of benzo [a I pyrene in one placenta. Chrysene was present at the highest concentrations, with median 1.38 ng/g dry weight. Dibenz[a,h]anthracene and benzo[g,h,ilperylene had the lowest concentrations; each had median 0.73 ng/g dry weight. Concentrations in Kyiv were slightly higher than those in Dniprodzerzhinsk, butthe differencewas significantonlyfor dibenz [a,h I anthracene. Dibenz [ a,h] anthracene and benzo[g,h,ijperylene increased significantly with maternal body mass index, but other PAHs showed no such pattern. Placentas from deliveries in autumn or winter had slightly but not significantly higher concentrations. Concentrations were not related to maternal age. There were too few smokers in the sample for meaningful evaluation. No associations were seen between any of the placental PAH concentrations and birth weight of the infant. </jats:p>

Embryonic Resorption and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Putative Immune-mediated Mechanisms

“…Resorption of the entire litter was observed in pregnant mice orally exposed to carbon black oil, which is a petroleum refinery by-product, containing several classes of hydrocarbons, including PAHs [Hansen et al 2000]. Additionally, early studies in mice demonstrated the transplacental capacity of PAHs [Bulay and Wattenberg 1971] and human studies have shown significant accumulation of PAHs in the placenta [Gladen et al 2000], umbilical cord endothelium [Hansen et al 1992], and neonatal white blood cells [Whyatt et al 2001] from babies born to mothers who smoke.…”

Vessel tortuousity and reduced vascularization in the fetoplacental arterial tree after maternal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

“…More than a year after smoking cessation, PAH-DNA adducts in human blood samples are reduced by only 50% compared with levels during smoking (34). PAHs have also been shown to accumulate in the placentas of non and ex-smokers in heavily polluted areas (16). Nevertheless, there is limited information on the effects of PAH accumulation on pregnancy outcomes.…”

Fetal growth restriction triggered by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with altered placental vasculature and AhR-dependent changes in cell death

“…61). Furthermore, PAHs have been shown to cross the placenta (8,14) and form hemoglobin adducts in both maternal and fetal sera (73), in addition to forming DNA adducts in both human (37) and murine (55) trophoblast cells.…”