Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, arsenic and environmental tobacco smoke, nutrient intake, and oxidative stress in Japanese preschool children

The association between oxidative stress and exposure to environmental chemicals was assessed in a group of Japanese preschool children. The concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and cotinine in spot urine samples, collected from 134 children (3–6 yrs) from a kindergarten in Kanagawa, Japan, were measured as biomarkers of oxidative stress or exposure to environmental chemicals. For 76 subjects of the 134, intakes of anti-oxidant nutrients (vitamins A, C, and E, manganese, copper, zinc and selenium (Se)) were estimated from a food consumption survey carried out 2–4 weeks after urine sampling and by urine analysis (Se). The median (min–max) creatinine-corrected concentrations of urinary biomarkers were 4.45 (1.98–12.3), 0.127 (0.04–2.41), 4.78 (1.18–12.7), and 0.62 (< 0.6–19.0) μg/g cre for 8-OHdG, 1-OHP, iAs + MMA, and cotinine, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was carried out using 8-OHdG concentration as a dependent variable and urinary biomarkers of exposure and Se intake, intakes of vitamins and biological attributes of the subjects as independent variables. To explain 8-OHdG concentrations, intake of vitamin A and age were significant variables with negative coefficients, while 1-OHP concentration had a positive coefficient. These results indicated that oxidative stress of children is affected by chemical exposure at environmental levels, by nutrient intake and by physiological factors in a complex manner. On the other hand, unstable statistical results due to sub-grouping of subject, based on the availability of food consumption data, were found: the present results should further be validated by future studies with suitable research design.

Research highlights
► Oxidative stress of children was examined in relation to environmental exposure to chemicals and anti-oxidant nutrient intake.
► Urinary biomarker approach was employed for oxidative stress and PAH, As and ETS exposure.
► A weak positive relationship was observed between urinary 8OHdG and urinary As and PAH metabolites.
► Negative relationship was seen between urinary 8OHdG and vitamin A intake.