Work

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in silicone wristbands of Uruguayan children: measurement and exposure source exploration

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: of wristband. Low molecular weight PAHs (2-3 rings) such as naphthalene and its alkyl derivatives were highly correlated (0.7-0.9) in the wristbands, suggesting exposure from related sources. Exposure source exploration focused on secondhand tobacco smoke, potentially through caregivers who reported on smoking habits in an associated survey. A principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted to examine patterns in PAH compounds detected in the wristbands; subsequently, the resulting components were compared according to current smoking among caregivers. The PCA analysis revealed a grouping of participants based on higher exposure of 1-methyl naphthalene, pyrene, fluoranthene, 1-methylphenanthrene, dibenzothiophene and 2-phenyl naphthalene. The derived components did relate with parental smoking, suggesting that some participants experienced exposure to a common source of certain PAHs outside of parental smoking. This is the first study to assess PAH exposure in young children from South America. Using wristbands, our study indicates exposure to multiple, potentially harmful chemicals. Wristbands could provide a comprehensive picture of PAH exposure in children, complementing other non-invasive biomonitoring approaches.

Source: Environmental Science Advances

DOI: 10.1039/d3va00364g