Smoking During Pregnancy Is Associated with Higher Dietary Intake of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS)

Abstract

ISEE-0543 Background and Objective: Recent studies suggest prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. Other than tobacco smoke and occupational exposures, diet is the main source of human PAH exposure. However, little is known about dietary intake of these compounds among pregnant women. This study aimed to estimate dietary intake of total PAHs and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), identify the main dietary sources of these compounds and characterize factors associated with higher intakes among women with different tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy. Methods: Data came from the Spanish INMA (Environment and Childhood)-Sabadell cohort of 657 women recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy. Dietary exposure to total PAHs and BaP was calculated combining food consumption data and estimated PAH concentrations in food items. One-way ANOVA was used to identify significant differences in intake among non-smokers, passive or active smokers. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess whether tobacco smoke exposure, reproductive history, and socioeconomic indicators were related to higher intakes. Results: Mean dietary intakes of BaP and PAHs were significantly higher among smokers (0.225 and 10.200 μg/day respectively) and passive smokers (0.220 and 9.385 μg/day) than non-smokers (0.200 and 8.883 μ g/day) (P-value < 0.001). In all women, major contributors to total PAHs were processed meats, shellfish, and cereals/potatoes. For BaP, after dairy products, the major contributors were vegetables and fruits in passive and non-smokers, vs. shellfish and processed meats among smokers. Active and passive smoke exposure and lower educational level were associated with higher PAH intakes. Conclusion: Women who smoked actively or were exposed to passive smoke had higher exposure to dietary PAHs during pregnancy due to their higher intake of processed meats and shellfish. Given that tobacco smoke is an additional route of PAH exposure, the added dietary burden in these women is of concern.