Using urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations to evaluate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in women using biomass combustion as main energy source.

CONTEXT

The use of solid fuels for cooking and heating is likely to be the largest source of indoor air pollution on a global scale.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in women living in a rural community, where biomass combustion is used as main energy source during a working day.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was performed on urine samples collected in 2012, of 30 healthy women who were residents of a rural community in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Urine was collected from each woman at three time points (morning, post-lunch and evening) during a working day. The analysis of urinary 1-OHP was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Also, a health-risk assessment was conducted.

RESULTS

The highest levels of 1-OHP in this study were found in the samples taken in the evening (geometric mean ± SD; 0.36 ± 0.13 µg/g creatinine). However, no significant differences among 1-OHP concentrations in the evening and post-lunch samples (0.27 ± 0.10 µg/g creatinine; 0.58 ± 0.67 µg/L) were observed. But, the 1-OHP levels (0.17 ± 0.13 µg/g creatinine; 0.19 ± 0.21 µg/L) found in samples collected in the morning were significantly lower than the 1-OHP levels found in samples collected during post-lunch and evening time.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The data shown in this study demonstrated an increment in the exposure levels to PAHs in women across the shift. However, no health risk was found in this study.