Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon residues in serum samples of autopsied individuals from Tennessee.

Aramandla Ramesh,Mounika Aramandla,Alfred Nyanda,Anil Kumar

doi:10.3390/ijerph120100322

Abstract

This study reports the concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in human blood sera samples (n = 650) obtained at autopsy from individuals who died of drug abuse, alcohol toxicity, homicide, suicide and other unknown causes. The analyzed samples from decedents revealed the presence of PAHs of which B(a)P was the most predominant one, followed by benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene. The other PAHs detected sporadically and measured were benzo(g,h,i)perylene, acenaphthene, anthracene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene The mean concentrations of PAHs were greater in the twenties to fifties age groups compared to others. The PAH residue levels detected were high in African Americans compared to Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics. It appears that environmental exposure, dietary intake and in some cases occupational exposure may have contributed to the PAH body burden. While the PAH residue concentrations measured fall within the range of those reported for healthy adults elsewhere, in isolated cases, the concentrations detected were high, calling the need for a reduction in PAH emissions and human biomonitoring studies for purposes of risk assessment.

Highlights

One of the legacies of the Industrial Revolution is a better quality of life on one the hand and declining environmental quality on the other
Even though more than 100 different Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds are known to occur in environment and biological samples, the U.S EPA has classified 16 of the PAHs as priority-pollutants based on information available on frequency of occurrence at hazardous waste sites, other environmental media, toxicity, and potential for human exposure [7]
Out of the EPA 16 PAHs, the PAHs detected in autopsy samples in the present study were benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P], benzo(b)fluoranthene [B(b)f], benzo(k)fluoranthene [B(k)f], benzo(g,h,i)perylene, acenaphthene, anthracene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene

Summary

Introduction

One of the legacies of the Industrial Revolution is a better quality of life on one the hand and declining environmental quality on the other. A group of chemicals which have been associated with urban sprawl are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Substantial intake of these toxicants in humans occurs through exposure routes such as eating of PAH-contaminated food and drinking water and inhaling gaseous PAHs. Inhalation of particle-borne or gaseous PAHs occur through tobacco smoke, automobile exhausts, and combustion processes, which include burning of coal, oil, and biomass [1,2]. Inhalation of particle-borne or gaseous PAHs occur through tobacco smoke, automobile exhausts, and combustion processes, which include burning of coal, oil, and biomass [1,2] Several occupational categories such as people who handle jet fuel, coke, aluminum industries, and work as fire fighters are exposed to PAHs. Detailed sources of PAH exposures have been listed in Ramesh et al [3,4]

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