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Is urinary 1-hydroxypyrene a valid biomarker for exposure to air pollution in outdoor workers? A meta-analysis

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 24, pages 17–26 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and specificity of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPu) as a biomarker of the exposure from urban pollution to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among outdoor workers in a meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis was performed according to standard methods, and the results show that the concentrations of 1-OHPu tend to be higher in exposed workers than in unexposed workers (if we exclude two highly heterogeneous articles), in exposed non-smokers than in unexposed non-smokers and in exposed than in unexposed workers who were carriers of the CYP1A1 genotype and in those with the glutathione-S-transferase M1 (−)genotype. These genotypes enhance the effect of exposure, particularly in non-smokers. Smoking reduces the differences between exposed and unexposed subjects. In conclusion, our results suggest that the use of the 1-OHPu biomarker appears to be reliable for studying occupational exposure to PAHs from urban pollution, as long as environmental and behavioural factors are considered.

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Abbreviations

CYP:

cytochrome P450

GST:

glutathione S-transferase

1-OHPu:

urinary 1-hydroxypyrene

PAHs:

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

PYRH:

hydrocarbon pyrene

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Unit of Occupational Medicine, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

    Manuela Ciarrocca, Maria Valeria Rosati, Francesco Tomei, Assuntina Capozzella, Giorgia Andreozzi, Teodorico Casale, Maria Fernanda Cuartas & Tiziana Caciari

  2. Department of Psychiatric and Psychological Science, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy

    Gianfranco Tomei & Mario Fioravanti

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy

    Alessandro Bacaloni

  4. Scientific Medical Department, Stallergenes SA, Antony, France

    Jean Claude Andrè

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  1. Manuela Ciarrocca
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Ciarrocca, M., Rosati, M., Tomei, F. et al. Is urinary 1-hydroxypyrene a valid biomarker for exposure to air pollution in outdoor workers? A meta-analysis. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 24, 17–26 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.111

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