Lung function, airway inflammation, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in mexican schoolchildren: A pilot study

Objective: To determine the association of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)withlungfunctionandpHofexhaledbreathcondensate (EBC) in Mexican schoolchildren. Methods: A pilot study was performed in a subsample of 64 schoolchildren from Mexico City. Lung function and pH of EBC were measured and metabolites of PAHs in urine samples were determined. The association was analyzed using robust regression models. Results: A 10% increase in the concentrations of 2-hydroxyfluorene was significantly negatively associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (−11.2 mL, 95% CI: −22.2 to −0.02), forced vital capacity (−11.6 mL, 95% CI: −22.9 to −0.2), and pH of EBC (−0.035, 95% CI: −0.066 to −0.005). Conclusion: Biomarkers of PAHs exposure were inversely associated with lung function and decrease of ph of EBC as a marker of airway inflammation in Mexican schoolchildren. P olycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a group of compounds composed of fused benzenoid rings and formed by incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic materials. Significant PAHs sources include motor vehicle exhaust, residential and industrial heating, waste incineration, and tobacco smoke. The PAHs with low molecular weight (two- and three-ring) are mainly found in the gas phase and those with high molecular weight (five- and six-ring) are mainly associated with particles in air. 1 Smoking, grilling, and broiling lead to PAH formation in meat and in other foods. Considering the breadth and the variety of environmental sources, human exposure to PAHs occurs mostly through inhalation of polluted air and food consumption. 2 Measurement of urinary metabolites reflects recent exposure to PAHs, and each parent PAH can produce more than From the National Institute of Public Health (Drs Barraza-Villarreal, Hernandez