Personal Exposure to Source‐Specific Particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Systemic Inflammation: A Cross‐Sectional Study of Urban‐Dwelling Older Adults in China
Jia Xu,
Nan Zhang,
Yujuan Zhang,
Penghui Li,
Jinbao Han,
Shuang Gao,
Xinhua Wang,
Chunmei Geng,
Wen Yang,
Liwen Zhang,
Bin Han,
Zhipeng Bai
Affiliations
Jia Xu
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Nan Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Yujuan Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Penghui Li
School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering Tianjin University of Technology Tianjin China
Jinbao Han
School of Quality and Technical Supervision Hebei University Baoding China
Shuang Gao
School of Geographic and Environmental Sciences Tianjin Normal University Tianjin China
Xinhua Wang
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Chunmei Geng
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Wen Yang
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Liwen Zhang
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Public Health Tianjin Medical University Tianjin China
Bin Han
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Zhipeng Bai
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Beijing China
Abstract Environmental exposure to ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can disturb the immune response. However, the evidence on adverse health effects caused by exposure to PAHs emitted from specific sources among different vulnerable subpopulations is limited. In this cross‐sectional study, we aimed to evaluate whether exposure to source‐specific PAHs could increase systemic inflammation in older adults. The present study included community‐dwelling older adults and collected filter samples of personal exposure to PM2.5 during the winter of 2011. Blood samples were collected after the PM2.5 sample collection. We analyzed PM2.5 bound PAHs and serum inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)1β, IL6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels. The Positive Matrix Factorization model was used to identify PAH sources. We used a linear regression model to assess the relative effects of source‐specific PM2.5 bound PAHs on the levels of measured inflammatory cytokines. After controlling for confounders, exposure to PAHs emitted from biomass burning or diesel vehicle emission was significantly associated with increased serum inflammatory cytokines and systemic inflammation. These findings highlight the importance of considering exposure sources in epidemiological studies and controlling exposures to organic materials from specific sources.
