Long-term exposure to low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alterations in platelet indices: A longitudinal study in China

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 11; p. e0276944
• Main Authors: Cui, Jing, Zhang, Ting, Zhang, Chao, Xue, Zhenwei, Chen, Durong, Kong, Xiaona, Zhao, Caili, Guo, Yufeng, Li, Zimeng, Liu, Xiaoming, Duan, Jiefang, Peng, Wenjie, Zhou, Xiaolin, Yu, Hongmei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 02.11.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: 1-Hydroxypyrene; Alcohol; Analysis; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Blood cell count; Blood platelets; Body mass index; Chronic exposure; Correlation; Environmental aspects; Exposure; Health aspects; Longitudinal studies; Low concentrations; Metabolites; Modelling; Platelets; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Statistical models; Urine; Variance analysis; China; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276944

Long-term exposure to low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration may ave detrimental effects, including changing platelet indices. Effects of chronic exposure to low PAH concentrations have been evaluated in cross-sectional, but not in longitudinal studies, to date. We aimed to assess the effects of long-term exposure to the low-concentration PAHs on alterations in platelet indices in the Chinese population. During 2014–2017, we enrolled 222 participants who had lived in a village in northern China, 1–2 km downwind from a coal plant, for more than 25 years, but who were not employed by the plant or related businesses. During three follow-ups, annually in June, demographic information and urine and blood samples were collected. Eight PAHs were tested: namely 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyfluorene (9-OHFlu), 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OHPh), 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPh), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), and 3-hydroxybenzo [a] pyrene. Five platelet indices were measured: platelet count (PLT), platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet crit, and the platelet-large cell ratio. Generalized mixed and generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate correlations between eight urinary PAH metabolites and platelet indices. Model 1 assessed whether these correlations varied over time. Models 2 and 3 adjusted for additional personal information and personal habits. We found the following significant correlations: 2-OHPh (Model1 β 1 = 18.06, Model2 β 2 = 18.54, Model β 3 = 18.54), 1-OHPh (β 1 = 16.43, β 2 = 17.42, β 3 = 17.42), 1-OHP(β 1 = 13.93, β 2 = 14.03, β 3 = 14.03) with PLT, as well as 9-OHFlu with PDW and MPV (odds ratio or Model3 OR PDW [95%CI] = 1.64[1.3–2.06], OR MPV [95%CI] = 1.33[1.19–1.48]). Long-term exposure to low concentrations of PAHs, indicated by2-OHPh, 1-OHPh, 1-OHP, and 9-OHFlu, as urinary biomarkers, affects PLT, PDW, and MPV. 9-OHFlu increased both PDW and MPV after elimination of the effects of other PAH exposure modes.