Leukemia and PAHs levels in human blood serum: Preliminary results from an adult cohort in Greece

Abstract

This study focused on the evaluation of any possible relationship of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their hydroxylated derivatives, originated from different anthropogenic activities, with leukemia via determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons levels in human blood serum. It attempts to provide a sufficient profile of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives in leukemia patients (cases) and healthy donors (controls) in Greece, for which pertinent data is lacking. The determination was applied to 198 serum samples, including cases and controls. Demographic and environmental data, such as age, gender, smoking habits and area of residence were subjected to clustered analysis during the statistical treatment of the results. The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between cases and controls regarding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations, with phenanthrene, fluorene and acenaphthene being the most abundant compounds (<19 ng mL−1). The same difference was also observed for hydroxylated derivatives measured in cases of acute leukemia and controls, with 1-hydroxy phenanthrene and 1-hydroxy pyrene appearing more enriched, with their median concentrations calculated at 11.3 and 7.6 ng mL−1, respectively. Source apportionment tools were employed for the evaluation of any potential associations among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and several parameters. Molecular diagnostic ratios, applied in the classified data, indicated mainly that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected particularly in patients from rural sites could be originated from wood, grass or biomass burning. Principal Component Analysis, performed for overall and classified data, indicated a bioaccumulation of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with age and chronic types of leukemia and a possible common origin of these toxic compounds in cases of smokers living in industrial residence areas.