PAHs association with systemic dysregulations in municipal solid waste workers: insights from human biomonitoring and network analysis

Abstract

This study investigated biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their possible associations with systemic biological alterations among 90 municipal solid waste (MSW) workers (exposed group) and 90 janitorial staff (control group) in Bushehr, Iran. Network analysis techniques were also employed to visualize the interrelationship between biomarkers of PAHs exposure and selected hematological, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and liver-related biomarkers by Cytoscape software. Mean serum concentration levels of & sum;PAHs were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the exposed group (26.83 mu g/L) compared to the control group (8.84 mu g/L), with high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs predominating. The mean serum levels of PAHs ranged from 0.37 mu g/L for naphthalene (Naph) to 5.52 mu g/L for chrysene (Chr) among exposed subjects, and from 0.09 mu g/L for acenaphthene (Ace) to 1.25 mu g/L for benzoghiperylene (BghiP) in controls. Network analysis identified Benzobfluoranthene (BbF), Benzokfluoranthene (BkF, Indeno1,2,3-cd pyrene (IcdP), and Dibenza,hanthracene (DBahA) as major influencers in the exposure-effect network. Among the biomarkers, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) were influenced by a larger number of PAHs compared with others. However, the observed relationships between PAHs and biological biomarkers were generally weak to modest and should be interpreted cautiously. Overall, these findings highlight increased occupational PAH exposure among MSW workers and suggest possible, but not causal, associations with selected biological alterations, emphasizing substantial occupational health risks for MSW workers due to enhanced exposure to PAHs.