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Early markers of cardiovascular disease are associated with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Alhamdow, Ayman LU ; Lindh, Christian LU orcid ; Albin, Maria LU ; Gustavsson, Per ; Tinnerberg, Håkan LU and Broberg, Karin LU orcid (2017) In Scientific Reports 7(1).
Abstract

Occupational exposure to soot, rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, our knowledge about PAH exposure and early markers of CVD remains limited. In this cross-sectional study of 151 chimney sweeps and 152 controls, we investigated occupational exposure to PAH and early markers of CVD. Blood pressure (BP) (chimney sweeps only), urinary PAH metabolites and serum biomarkers were measured (C-reactive protein, homocysteine, gamma-glutamyltransferase, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides). Chimney sweeps had up to 7 times higher concentrations of PAH metabolites in urine than controls (P < 0.001): Median concentrations (adjusted for specific... (More)

Occupational exposure to soot, rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, our knowledge about PAH exposure and early markers of CVD remains limited. In this cross-sectional study of 151 chimney sweeps and 152 controls, we investigated occupational exposure to PAH and early markers of CVD. Blood pressure (BP) (chimney sweeps only), urinary PAH metabolites and serum biomarkers were measured (C-reactive protein, homocysteine, gamma-glutamyltransferase, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides). Chimney sweeps had up to 7 times higher concentrations of PAH metabolites in urine than controls (P < 0.001): Median concentrations (adjusted for specific gravity) for 1-hydroxypyrene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]anthracene were 0.56 μg/L, 0.78 μg/L, 4.75 ng/L, and 6.28 ng/L, respectively. Compared with controls, chimney sweeps had increased homocysteine, cholesterol, and HDL (β = 3.4 μmol/L, 0.43 mmol/L, and 0.13 mmol/L, respectively, P ≤ 0.003, adjusted for age, BMI, and smoking). In chimney sweeps, PAH metabolites correlated positively with the percentage of soot sweeping (P < 0.001). 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]anthracene were positively associated with diastolic BP (P < 0.044, adjusted for age, BMI, and smoking). PAH exposure among chimney sweeps resulted in elevated levels of markers for CVD risk. These findings stress the need to reduce occupational exposure to PAH.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
7
issue
1
article number
9426
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85028357937
  • wos:000408448100019
  • pmid:28842704
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-017-09956-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c81db1d6-d28f-4ab1-a9b0-b15466999385
date added to LUP
2017-09-05 12:38:29
date last changed
2025-01-07 20:19:48
@article{c81db1d6-d28f-4ab1-a9b0-b15466999385,
  abstract     = {{<p>Occupational exposure to soot, rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, our knowledge about PAH exposure and early markers of CVD remains limited. In this cross-sectional study of 151 chimney sweeps and 152 controls, we investigated occupational exposure to PAH and early markers of CVD. Blood pressure (BP) (chimney sweeps only), urinary PAH metabolites and serum biomarkers were measured (C-reactive protein, homocysteine, gamma-glutamyltransferase, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides). Chimney sweeps had up to 7 times higher concentrations of PAH metabolites in urine than controls (P &lt; 0.001): Median concentrations (adjusted for specific gravity) for 1-hydroxypyrene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]anthracene were 0.56 μg/L, 0.78 μg/L, 4.75 ng/L, and 6.28 ng/L, respectively. Compared with controls, chimney sweeps had increased homocysteine, cholesterol, and HDL (β = 3.4 μmol/L, 0.43 mmol/L, and 0.13 mmol/L, respectively, P ≤ 0.003, adjusted for age, BMI, and smoking). In chimney sweeps, PAH metabolites correlated positively with the percentage of soot sweeping (P &lt; 0.001). 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]anthracene were positively associated with diastolic BP (P &lt; 0.044, adjusted for age, BMI, and smoking). PAH exposure among chimney sweeps resulted in elevated levels of markers for CVD risk. These findings stress the need to reduce occupational exposure to PAH.</p>}},
  author       = {{Alhamdow, Ayman and Lindh, Christian and Albin, Maria and Gustavsson, Per and Tinnerberg, Håkan and Broberg, Karin}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Early markers of cardiovascular disease are associated with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09956-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-017-09956-x}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}