Human Metabolic
Responses to Chronic Environmental
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure by a Metabolomic Approach
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Abstract
The toxicities of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) have
been extensively explored due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic
potency; however, little is known about the metabolic responses to
chronic environmental PAH exposure among the general population. In
the present study, 566 healthy volunteers were dichotomized into exposed
and control groups to investigate PAH-induced perturbations in the
metabolic profiles. Nine urine PAH metabolites were measured by a
sensitive LC–MS/MS method to comprehensively evaluate the PAH
exposure level of each individual, and the metabolic profiles were
characterized via a LC–MS-based metabolomic approach. PAH exposure
was correlated to its metabolic outcomes by linear and logistic regression
analyses. Metabolites related to amino acid, purine, lipid, and glucuronic
acid metabolism were significantly changed in the exposed group. 1-Hydroxyphenanthrene
and dodecadienylcarnitine have potential as sensitive and reliable
biomarkers for PAH exposure and its metabolic outcomes, respectively,
in the general population. These findings generally support the hypothesis
that environmental PAH exposure causes oxidative stress-related effects
in humans. The current study provides new insight into the early molecular
events induced by PAH exposure in the actual environment