Field Evaluation of a Potential Exposure Biomarker of Methylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Association between Urinary Phenanthrene-2-carboxylic Acid and Personal Exposure to 2-Methylphenanthrene
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Previous in vitro studies identified carboxylic acids as the major metabolites of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We have previously detected phenanthrene-2-carboxylic acid (2-PHECA) in human urine, but a direct linkage between this biomarker and external exposure to methylated PAHs remains unestablished. Herein, we analyzed phenanthrene (PHE) and 2-MePHE in 589 personal PM2.5 samples and hydroxy-phenanthrenes (ςOH-PHEs) and 2-PHECA in paired urine samples from 120 urban residents. We observed higher personal 2-MePHE and PHE exposure but lower urinary 2-PHECA and ςOH-PHEs levels in the heating season, possibly due to changes in gas-particle partitioning, dietary source, and metabolism. After adjusting for seasonal effects, urinary 2-PHECA concentrations were significantly associated with personal exposure to 2-MePHE but not PHE. We also found significant associations between the urinary 2-PHECA/ςOH-PHEs ratio and personal 2-MePHE/PHE ratio, an indicator for the petrogenic versus pyrogenic sources. Alcohol consumption was identified as an influencing factor for the 2-PHECA level and 2-PHECA/ςOH-PHEs ratio, likely via competing the metabolism of 2-MePHE by alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases. These results suggest the potential usefulness of the urinary 2-PHECA level as a biomarker of methylated PAH exposure and the 2-PHECA/ςOH-PHEs ratio as a biomarker for the relative importance of petrogenic or pyrogenic sources.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lin, Y; Zhang, H; Han, Y; Qiu, X; Jiang, X; Cheng, Z; Wang, Y; Chen, X; Fan, Y; Li, W; Zhang, J; Zhu, T
Published Date
- February 8, 2022
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 9 / 2
Start / End Page
- 166 - 172
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 2328-8930
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00938
Citation Source
- Scopus