Development of a 1-Hydroxypyrene Quantification Method for Use as a Biomarker in Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure

Abstract

A common phenolic metabolite of pyrene, 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), is often used as a biomarker to assess polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. The developed high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method showed sufficient sensitivity to quantify 1-OHP in non-smoker urine samples, obtained in an ongoing project studying the effects of traffic related air pollution exposure in a population of pregnant women in South Texas. Data obtained through the developed method will be used to assess the effectiveness of 1-OHP as a biomarker for PAH exposure and will be compared to urinary concentrations of nitrated pyrene metabolites and airborne pyrene concentrations, collected through the use of personal monitoring devices. Success of the project will be determined by the specificity and sensitivity of the proposed method in quantification of 1-OHP concentrations and its application to the overall aims of the ongoing project.