Can 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine be used to assess oxidative stress caused by particulate matter air pollution in the general population?

OBJECTIVES

Assess the association between 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) levels and particulate matter air pollution in non-occupational exposure groups from peer-reviewed literature.

METHODS

Ovid Medline and PubMed were used to search for all peer-reviewed articles published between 1946 and May 2013. Keywords included particulate matter, air pollution, deoxyguanosine, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, and known abbreviations. Seven English, non-occupational exposure, human subject studies were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the two studies involving children one found significant positive associations between exposure to particulate matter air pollution and 8OHdG. Investigations into non-occupationally exposed adults were mixed. The lone double-blind crossover study found no relationship between diesel exhaust exposure and 8OHdG. Two out of three panel studies and one cohort study found significant associations between 8OHdG and classes of particles and for various lags.

CONCLUSIONS

Analyses accounting for particle composition and lags between exposure and physiological responses had the strongest significant associations. Results are not conclusive due to the inconsistency in study designs, small sample sizes, and differences in exposure assessment techniques. Consistent methodology with representative populations including women and other non-occupationally exposed groups are recommended.