EFFECTS OF PAHS ON CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

초록

Purpose: Epidemiologic studies have suggested the association between environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and the increased risk of incurring asthma. Yet there has been little data about the relationship between the personal exposure to PAHs and the incidence of asthma in children. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of exposure to PAHs on children with asthma by using exposure biomarkers. Methods: Thirty children with asthma who were having asthma related symptoms and 30 control children were enrolled. We assessed the exposure level to PAHs by measuring urinary concentrations of 1-OH pylene and 2-naphthol. Results: The mean level of urinary 1-OH pylene was higher in the asthma group (0.430 ± 0.343 μmol/mol creatinine) than the control group (0.239 ± 0.175 μmol/mol creatinine), and this was statistically significant(P=0.03). There was no difference for the mean concentration of 2-naphthol between the two groups (9.864 ± 10.037 μmol/mol in the asthma group vs 9.157 ± 9.640 μmol/mol in the control group, P=0.96). Conclusion: This study suggests that PAHs have some role in asthma in children.