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. 2021 Mar 4;18(5):2575.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052575.

Exposure to Particulate PAHs on Potential Genotoxicity and Cancer Risk among School Children Living Near the Petrochemical Industry

Nor Ashikin Sopian  1 , Juliana Jalaludin  1 , Suhaili Abu Bakar  2 , Titi Rahmawati Hamedon  3 , Mohd Talib Latif  4
Affiliations

Exposure to Particulate PAHs on Potential Genotoxicity and Cancer Risk among School Children Living Near the Petrochemical Industry

Nor Ashikin Sopian et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the association of exposure to particle-bound (PM2.5) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with potential genotoxicity and cancer risk among children living near the petrochemical industry and comparative populations in Malaysia. PM2.5 samples were collected using a low-volume sampler for 24 h at three primary schools located within 5 km of the industrial area and three comparative schools more than 20 km away from any industrial activity. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometer was used to determine the analysis of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) priority PAHs. A total of 205 children were randomly selected to assess the DNA damage in buccal cells, employing the comet assay. Total PAHs measured in exposed and comparative schools varied, respectively, from 61.60 to 64.64 ng m-3 and from 5.93 to 35.06 ng m-3. The PAH emission in exposed schools was contributed mainly by traffic and industrial emissions, dependent on the source apportionment. The 95th percentiles of the incremental lifetime cancer risk estimated using Monte Carlo simulation revealed that the inhalation risk for the exposed children and comparative populations was 2.22 × 10-6 and 2.95 × 10-7, respectively. The degree of DNA injury was substantially more severe among the exposed children relative to the comparative community. This study reveals that higher exposure to PAHs increases the risk of genotoxic effects and cancer among children.

Keywords: DNA damage; children; industry; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of peninsular Malaysia and the study area (Terengganu State). The six schools are located in the districts of Dungun and Kemaman, Terengganu.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) species in PM2.5 samples ((A): outdoor; (B): indoor).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Probabilistic distribution of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for exposed and comparative children.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sensitivity analysis of carcinogenic risk for exposed children (A) and comparative children (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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