J Appl Biomed 22:89-98, 2024 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2024.012

Possible relationship between respiratory diseases and urinary concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites - a pilot study

Veronika Gomersall¹, Kateřina Ciglová¹, Hana Barošová², Kateřina Hoňková², Ivo Solanský³, Anna Pastorková^{2, 3}, Radim J. Šrám^{2, 3 †}, Jana Schmuczerová⁴, Jana Pulkrabová^{1 *}

¹ University of Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Prague, Czech Republic

² Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS, Prague 4, Czech Republic

³ University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

⁴ L. Pasteur University Hospital, Department of Medical Genetics, Košice, Slovak Republic

^† deceased 2022-10-29

This study investigates the potential relationship between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), specifically monohydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAHs), in urine, and the prevalence of respiratory diseases in 2-year-old children residing in two locations within the Czech Republic - České Budějovice (control location) and the historically contaminated mining district of Most. Despite current air quality and lifestyle similarities between the two cities, our research aims to uncover potential long-term health effects, building upon previous data indicating distinctive patterns in the Most population. A total of 248 urine samples were analysed for the presence of 11 OH-PAHs. Employing liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and clean-up through dispersive solid-phase extraction, instrumental analysis was conducted using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The incidence of respiratory diseases was assessed through questionnaires administered by paediatricians. The concentrations of OH-PAHs were elevated in urine samples from 2-year-olds in Most compared to those from České Budějovice. The incidence of respiratory diseases showed statistically significant higher levels of OH-PAHs in children from Most, together with a higher incidence of influenza. This association underlines the impact of environmental PAH exposure on children's respiratory health. It suggests that elevated urinary OH-PAH levels indicate an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases in the affected population. Further studies are needed to clarify the possible long-term health effects and to contribute to sound public health strategies.

Keywords: Influenza; Monohydroxylated PAH metabolites; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Respiratory diseases; Urine; 2-year-old toddlers

Grants and funding:

This work was supported by Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, grant nr. NV18-09-00151 and by the European Regional Development Fund under Grant Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment HAIE (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000798). Personal costs of Katerina Honkova and Hana Barosova were supported by Czech Academy of Sciences (Support of Perspective Human Resources).

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: November 16, 2023; Revised: June 4, 2024; Accepted: June 13, 2024; Prepublished online: June 18, 2024; Published: June 24, 2024  Show citation