Impact of Pregnancy on the Levels of Selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Objective: To compare the levels of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) between pregnant and non-pregnant females. Design: Cross-sectional for pregnant and non-pregnant females who participated in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2001-2010 were examined. Data for 10 urinary metabolites of PAH, namely, 1-hydroxynaphtahlene, 2-hydroxynaphtahlene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 3-hydroxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyfluorene, 1- hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene and 1- hydroxypyrene were analyzed. Setting: Cross-sectional data for pregnant and non-pregnant females from NHANES for the year 2001-2010. Subjects: The study sample included 334 pregnant and 1679 non-pregnant females aged 20-44 years who participated in NHANES for the period 2001-2010. Results: Pregnant females had statistically significantly lower levels of 2-hydroxyfluorene (394.4 vs. 457.1 ng/L, p=0.03), 3-hydroxyfluorene (139.1 vs. 207.9 ng/L, p<0.01), and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene (87.9 vs. 109.6 ng/L, p<0.01) than non-pregnant females but statistically significantly higher levels of 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (185.3 vs. 133.8 ng/L, p<0.01), 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (47.3 vs. 37.9 ng/L, p<0.01) and 1-hydroxypyrene (155.2 vs. 126.7 ng/L, p=0.04). Smokers had statistically significantly higher levels for every PAH metabolite than non-smokers (p<0.01), for example, for 1-hydroxynaphthalene, adjusted levels for smokers and nonsmokers were 9329.0 vs. 3277.5 ng/L (p<0.01) and for 2-hydroxynaphthalene, adjusted levels for smokers and nonsmokers were 7551.8 vs. 1231.2 ng/L (p<0.01). Observed levels of all 10 PAH metabolites increased (p<0.01) over 2001-2010 for both pregnant and non-pregnant females. Conclusion: Depending up on the individual PAHs, pregnancy may accelerate or decelerate excretion of PAH metabolites.