Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, antioxidant levels and behavioral development of children ages 6–9

Abstract

Purpose Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure has been shown to increase DNA adduct levels and to affect neurodevelopment. Micronutrients may modify the adverse effect of PAH on neurodevelopment. Thus, we examined if micronutrient concentrations modified the association between PAH exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods 151 children from a birth cohort who had micronutrient concentrations measured in cord blood and completed the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL), between the ages of 6 and 9 years, were evaluated. Prenatal airborne PAH exposure was measured by personal air monitoring. The betas and 95% CI for the associations of antioxidant concentrations and PAH exposure with each of the outcomes of CBCL raw score and dichotomized standardized T-score (based on clinical cutpoints) were estimated, respectively, by multivariable poisson and logistic models. Results Children below the median for alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol concentrations, compared to those above, were more likely to have thought problems, aggressive behavior and externalizing problems (p<0.05). Lower carotenoid concentration was associated with more thought problems (MVβ=0.60, p<0.001) and externalizing problems (MVβ=0.13, p<0.05) for the same contrast. No statistically significant associations were observed between retinol concentrations and neurodevelopmental symptoms. Overall, no consistent patterns were observed when we examined the interaction between antioxidants (e.g., alpha-tocopherol) and PAH in relation to CBCL symptoms (e.g., internalizing and externalizing problems, p<0.05). Conclusions Lower alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and carotenoid levels may adversely affect healthy neurodevelopment, even after accounting for PAH exposure. Future research to confirm these findings are warranted given the importance of identifying modifiable factors for reducing harmful PAH effects.

Environmental Determinants of Aggression in Adolescents: Role of Urban Neighborhood Greenspace

“…8 Previous studies in urban-dwelling populations have primarily focused on social environmental determinants, but whether and how the physical characteristics of urban environments affect aggressive behaviors are not well understood. In search of modifiable physical environmental factors predictive of aggressive behaviors, we only found scant literature suggesting possible adverse effects of air pollution, 9–11 meteorological factors, 12–16 and neighborhood noise. 17 The beneficial impacts of greenspace 18 have become increasingly recognized by public health advocates, and clinicians have started prescribing exposure to greenspace as a natural treatment for various physical and mental illnesses.…”

Assessing 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in River Basin Water and Sediment Regarding Spatial-Temporal Distribution, Partitioning, and Ecological Risks

“…Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic chemicals containing two or more aromatic rings without any heteroatoms or substituents [1][2][3][4][5][6], and prevalently exit in the environment, which are derived from nature and anthropogenic processes such as incomplete combustion, industrial incineration, wastewater discharge, vehicular emissions, and uncontrolled spills [7][8][9]. PAHs have toxicity of erotogenesis, carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity, and their toxicity is even greater in aquatic environments [10][11].…”

Gidalarda Poli̇si̇kli̇k Aromati̇k Hi̇drokarbon Bi̇leşi̇kleri̇ni̇n Bulunuşu Ve Sağlik Üzeri̇ne Etki̇leri̇

“…Bunun yan› s›ra, hayvansal deneylerde baz› PAH bilefliklerin somatik hücrelerde mutajenik etkisinin de oldu¤u EFSA taraf›ndan bildirilmifltir (14,19,31 (45). Genel olarak insanlarda görülen kanser türlerinin, PAH bilefliklerinin DNA'ya ba¤lanmas›yla oluflan hasar nedeniyle ortaya ç›kt›¤› düflünülmektedir (4,10,22,32). Ayr›ca PAH bilefliklerinin insanlar üzerinde tümör bafllat›c› ve gelifltirici özelliklerinin de bulundu¤u bildirilmifltir (24).…”

“…Polisiklik aromatik hidrokarbon (PAH) bileflikler, kömür gibi fosil yak›tlar›n, karbon içeren maddelerin ve g›da gibi di¤er organik bilefliklerin yüksek s›cakl›kta oksijensiz ortamda pirolize olmas› veya tam yanmamas› sonucu oluflan çevre kirletici maddeler olarak tan›mlanmaktad›r (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Günümüzde, PAH bileflikleri; fosil yak›tlar› kullan›m›n›n artmas›, endüstrinin geliflmesi, at›klar›n birikmesi ve tütün içilmesi gibi insan kaynakl› faaliyetlerin oluflumlar›n›n yan› s›ra volkanik patlamalar ve orman yang›nlar› gibi do¤al kaynaklarla da oluflmaktad›r (8)(9)(10)(11).…”