Ann Occup Environ Med.  2018 ;30(1):23. 10.1186/s40557-018-0236-x.

Relationship between residence characteristics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in housewives: second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014)

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, 875 Heaundae-ro, Haeundae-Gu, Busan, 48108 South Korea. lyou77@paik.ac.kr.
  • 2Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 47392 South Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced by incomplete combustion have negative effects on human health due to their carcinogenicity and teratogenicity. Indoor sources of PAHs include tobacco smoke, heating sources, and cooking. This study evaluated the relationship between human PAH exposure and residence characteristics. METHOD: This study was based on the second Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012-2014). Non-smoking housewives were included in the analyses (n"‰="‰1269). The concentrations of urinary PAH metabolites (2-naphthol, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene) were adjusted by urine creatinine level. The geometric mean concentrations of urinary PAH metabolites by residential factors were examined. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between residential variables and PAH exposures.
RESULTS
The adjusted geometric mean concentrations of urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene were significantly higher in the group residing within 100 m of a major road (p"‰<"‰0.05) than in those residing >"‰100 m from a major road. In logistic regression analyses, the odds ratio (OR) for exceeding the third quartile of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration was significantly higher in the group using coal or wood fuel for residential heating than in the group using gas (OR"‰="‰2.745, 95% confidence interval [CI]"‰="‰1.295-5.819). The detached house group had a significantly higher OR for 1-hydroxyphenanthrene compared with the apartment group (OR"‰="‰1.515, 95% CI"‰="‰1.023-2.243).
CONCLUSION
Our study shows the evidence of associations between some urinary PAH metabolite levels (1-hydroxyphenanthrene and 1-hydroxypyrene) and residence characteristics. Additional studies are needed to clarify these associations.

Keyword

PAHs; Housewives; Residence characteristics; Heating fuel

MeSH Terms

Coal
Cooking
Creatinine
Environmental Health*
Heating
Hot Temperature
Humans
Logistic Models
Methods
Odds Ratio
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
Residence Characteristics*
Smoke
Tobacco
Wood
Coal
Creatinine
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
Smoke
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