Abstract
The application of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-toxic equivalent factor to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations can provide a more accurate risk assessment from environmental exposure to PAH. We hypothesized that BaP-equivalent toxicity determined following residential air monitoring among young urban children may vary by season. Residential indoor and outdoor air levels of PAH measured over two-weeks in a cohort of 5–6 year old children (n = 260) in New York City were normalized to the cancer and mutagen potency equivalent factor of BaP (BaP = 1). Data are presented as carcinogenic equivalents (BaP-TEQ) and mutagenic equivalents (BaP-MEQ) for the sum of 8 PAH (Σ8PAH; MW ≥ 228) and individual PAH and compared across heating versus nonheating seasons. Results show that heating compared to nonheating season was associated significantly with higher (BaP-TEQ)Σ8PAH and (BaP-MEQ)Σ8PAH both indoors and outdoors (p < 0.001). Outdoor (BaP-TEQ)Σ8PAH and (BaP-MEQ)Σ8PAH were significantly higher than the corresponding indoor measures during the heating season (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that at levels encountered in New York City air, especially during the heating season, residential exposure to PAH may pose an increased risk of cancer and mutation.
Highlights
Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are suspected or known carcinogens and mutagens [1,2,3]
Our objective was to estimate the potential carcinogenic and mutagenic risks of residential exposure to PAH for a cohort of inner city young children based on BaP-equivalent concentration
We found a significant effect of heating season on BaP-TEQ and BaP-MEQ possibly due to higher emissions from heating sources and more frequent stagnant meteorological conditions in the winter
Summary
Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are suspected or known carcinogens and mutagens [1,2,3]. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), believed to be the most toxic PAH, has been well-characterized toxicologically. Many individual PAH have been considered to be of equivalent toxicity as BaP [4]. Several approaches have been developed to obtain a more accurate assessment of potential risk of exposure to a complex mixture of PAH using toxic equivalency factors based on BaP [1,2,3,6,7,8]. One is the carcinogenic equivalency factors (TEF) that can vary at either low or high dose settings.
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