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Abstract: Purpose: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a group of prevalent pollutants which are produced by incomplete combustion of organic materials such as coal, fuel, tobacco smoking and food cooking. The associations between exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have not been well studied. Methods: We used the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the associations between eight monohydroxy urinary metabolites of four PAHs and PAD. Results: In a logistic regression model, subjects within the middle and highest tertiles of fluorene metabolites, 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-FLUO) and 3-hydroxyfluorene (3-FLUO), and phenanthrene metabolites, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-PHEN) and 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-PHEN), had significantly higher prevalence of PAD as compared to subjects within the lowest tertile after adjusting for cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus and other covariates (For 2-FLUO, the 3rd tertile: OR=2.22, 95% CI=1.13–4.37, p for trend=0.02; For 3-FLUO, the 3rd tertile: OR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.16–4.77, p for trend=0.02; For 1-PHEN, the 3rd tertile: OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.01–3.37, p for trend=0.04; For 2-PHEN, the 3rd tertile: OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.07–2.88, p for trend=0.03). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that exposure to PAHs may increase the risk of PAD. Further studies are necessary to explore the associations between PAHs and PAD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The association between background, enduring environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiovascular diseases has not been well studied in the general population. In this study, we used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2004 to investigate the associations between eight monohydroxy PAHs (OH-PAHs) and self-report CVD. In a logistic regression model adjusting for cigarette smoking and other covariates, phenanthrene metabolite, 2-hydroxyphennathrene (2-PHEN), was significantly associated with self-report CVD. Compared to subjects within the lowest tertile of 2-PHEN, subjects within the middle and highest tertiles had higher self-report CVD (the 2nd tertile: AOR=1.29, 95%CI: 0.97–1.72; the 3rd tertile: AOR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.01–2.07; p for trend=0.04). In addition, fluorene metabolite (i.e. 2-hydroxyfluorene) also showed a marginally significant linear trend with self-report CVD (p for trend=0.07). Further studies are necessary to explore the associations between these highly prevalent pollutants and CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]