Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as biomarkers of exposure to wood smoke in wildland firefighters
Adetona O, Simpson CD, Li Z, Sjodin A, Calafat AM, Naeher LP. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2017 Jan;27(1):78-83. doi: 10.1038/jes.2015.75.
http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v27/n1/pdf/jes201575a.pdfpdf iconexternal icon

Quantification of urinary mono-hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by on-line solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Wang Y, Meng L, Pittman EN, Etheredge A, Hubbard K, Trinidad DA, Kato K, Ye X, Calafat AM. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2017 Feb;409(4):931-937. doi: 10.1007/s00216-016-9933-x.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-016-9933-xexternal icon

Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites as biomarkers to woodsmoke exposure – results from a controlled exposure study
Li Z, Trinidad D, Pittman EN, Riley EA, Sjodin A, Dills RL, Paulsen M, Simpson CD. . J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2016 May-Jun;26(3):241-8. doi: 10.1038/jes.2014.94.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4532642/pdf/nihms713881.pdfpdf iconexternal icon

Monitoring exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an Australian population using pooled urine samples
Thai PK, Heffernan AL, Toms LM, Li Z, Calafat AM, Peter Hobson P, Broomhall S, Mueller JF. Environ Int. 2016 Mar;88:30-5. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.11.019.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412015301033external icon

Development of urine standard reference materials for metabolites of organic chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, phenols, parabens, and volatile organic compounds
Schantz MM, Benner BA Jr, Heckert NA, Sander LC, Sharpless KE, Vander Pol SS, Vasquez Y, Villegas M, Wise SA, Alwis KU, Blount BC, Calafat AM, Li Z, Silva MJ, Ye X, Gaudreau É, Patterson DG Jr, Sjödin A.. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2015 Apr;407(11):2945-54.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-014-8441-0external icon

Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in small groups of residents in Brisbane, Australia and Hanoi, Vietnam, and those travelling between the two cities
Thai PK, Li Z, Sjödin A, Fox A, Diep NB, Binh TT, Mueller JF. Chemosphere. 2015 Jul 13;139:358-364. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.07.004.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653515007225external icon

Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (OH-PAH) metabolite concentrations and the effect of GST polymorphisms among US Air Force personnel exposed to jet fuel
Rodrigues EG, Smith K, Maule AL, Sjodin A, Li Z, Romanoff L, Kelsey K, Proctor S, McClean MD. J Occup Environ Med. 2014 May;56(5):465-71. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000142.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5137189/pdf/nihms831828.pdfpdf iconexternal icon

Lung function, airway inflammation, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in mexican schoolchildren: a pilot study
Barraza-Villarreal A, Escamilla-Nuñez MC, Schilmann A, Hernandez-Cadena L, Li Z, Romanoff L, Sjödin A, Del Río-Navarro BE, Díaz-Sanchez D, Díaz-Barriga F, Sly P, Romieu I. J Occup Environ Med. 2014 Apr;56(4):415-9. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000111.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604599/pdf/nihms726393.pdfpdf iconexternal icon

Time trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in New York City from 2001 to 2012: assessed by repeat air and urine samples
Jung KH, Liu B, Lovinsky-Desir S, Yan B, Camann D, Sjodin A, Li Z, Perera F, Kinney P, Chillrud S, Miller RL. Environ Res. 2014 May;131:95-103. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.02.017.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4031101/pdf/nihms577013.pdfpdf iconexternal icon

Biomonitoring Factsheet: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

Peer-Reviewed Biomonitoring Articles

Biomonitoring Glossary

CDC’s laboratory methods are intended to evaluate population exposures and to support states in situations considered a public health concern. CDC does not provide individual health care or assessment unless as part of a broader public health investigation requested by federal or state agencies, such as a health department. Currently, CDC’s Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch does not have the capability of generating pilot or preliminary results in support of proposals to obtain public or private funds for a larger project.

Detecting levels of an environmental chemical in a person’s blood or urine does not necessarily mean the chemical will cause adverse health effects or disease. Advances in analytical methods enable CDC to measure very low levels of environmental chemicals in people, but research studies of varying levels of exposure are needed to determine if specific levels cause health effects. Consulting a clinician with a toxicological background to assist with the interpretation of results is recommended.

Samples to be tested should be processed through a state health department laboratory, and should conform to the laboratory’s reporting procedures. These laboratory methods often require that the sample be collected by a particular method, or sometimes with particular pre-screened collection devices, to minimize external contamination. Following the correct sample collection protocol is necessary for accurate sample measurement. Please contact the laboratory that will be analyzing the sample to learn the sample collection instructions before collecting the samples.