Association of human cohorts exposed to blood and urinary biomarkers of PAHs with adult asthma in a South Asian metropolitan city.

Abstract

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are a major global problem that causes the greatest impact on urban settings and have been linked to bronchial asthma in both children and adults in Pakistan. The association between exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and asthma in the adult population is less clear. The current study aimed to assess the clinico-chemical parameters and blood levels of naphthalene phenanthrene, pyrene, and 1,2-benzanthracene and urinary levels of 1-OH pyrene and 1-OH phenanthrene as well as asthma-related biomarkers immunoglobulin E (IgE), resistin, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of oxidative stress and other hematologic parameters in adults and their relationship with bronchial asthma. The GC/MS analysis showed higher mean concentrations of blood PAHs in asthma respondents (4.48 ± 1.34, 3.46 ± 1.04, 0.10 ± 0.03, and 0.29 ± 0.09) (ng/mL) as compared to controls (3.07 ± 0.92, 1.71 ± 0.51, 0.06 ± 0.02, and 0.11 ± 0.03) (ng/mL), with p = .006, p = .001, p = .050, and p = .001. Similarly, urinary levels of 1-OHpyr and 1-OHphe were significantly increased in adults with bronchial asthma (0.54 ± 0.16; 0.13 ± 0.04) (μmol/mol-Cr) than in controls (0.30 ± 0.09; 0.05 ± 0.02) (μmol/mol-Cr), with p = .002 and p = .0001, respectively, with a significant positive correlation to asthma severity. The asthma-related biomarkers IgE, resistin, and SOD were significantly higher (p 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.0001) in people with asthma than in control persons. The findings showed that higher blood and urine PAHs levels were linked to higher asthma risk in adults and significant interaction with participants who smoked, had allergies, had a family history of asthma, and were exposed to dust. The current study's findings will be useful to local regulatory agencies in Lahore in terms of managing exposure and advocating efforts to minimize PAH pollution and manage health.