Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in urine of children and adolescents in Germany – human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey 2014–2017 (GerES V)

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mainly originate from incomplete combustion of organic materials and are, among other sources, found in traffic emissions, smoked or barbecued food, leafy vegetables, and tobacco smoke. Some PAH or their metabolites are hazardous for health and classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction. Urine samples from 3- to 17-year-old children and adolescents living in Germany were analysed for concentrations of metabolites of the PAH fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene in the population-representative German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents GerES V (2014–2017). PAH metabolites were analysed in urine samples of 516 participants and could be quantified in 88–100% of the samples. Geometric mean concentrations were: 0.785 μg/L (0.688 μg/gcreatinine) for 1-OH-naphthalene, 4.233 μg/L (3.706 μg/gcrea) for 2-OH-naphthalene, 0.139 μg/L (0.122 μg/gcrea) for 1-OH-phenanthrene, 0.085 μg/L (0.075 μg/gcrea) for 2-OH-phenanthrene, 0.131 μg/L (0.115 μg/gcrea) for 3-OH-phenanthrene, 0.045 μg/L (0.040 μg/gcrea) for 4-OH-phenanthrene, 0.058 μg/L (0.050 μg/gcrea) for 9-OH-phenanthrene, 0.511 μg/L (0.448 μg/gcrea) for Σ-OH-phenanthrene, and 0.099 μg/L (0.087 μg/gcrea) for 1-OH-pyrene. Analyses of subgroups revealed higher PAH metabolite concentrations in young children compared to adolescents, and also in residents of former East Germany compared to those living in former West Germany. Increased urinary PAH metabolite concentrations were found in participants using domestic fuel for heating or gas for cooking. Plastic objects were identified as another potential source of exposure. Urinary concentrations of naphthalene and fluorene metabolites were elevated in active smokers and to the same extent in non-smokers exposed to passive smoking. Comparison with previous cycles of GerES revealed a decrease over time and a further decline in the still significant differences in urinary PAH metabolite concentrations of participants living in former East versus West Germany.