Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in placenta

Concentrations of chrysene, benz [a] anthracene, benzo [a]-pyrene, benzo[b] fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3 -c,d]pyrene, dibenz[a,h] anthracene, and benzo[g ,h,i] perylene were measured in placentas from 200 women from two cities in Ukraine, Kyiv and Dniprodzerzhinsk. The participants had no special exposu res and were chosen from among subjects in an ongoing study of reproductive health. All seven of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were foun d in all placentas, with the sole exception of benzo [a] pyrene in one plac enta. Chrysene was present at the highest concentrations, with median 1.38 ng/g dry weight. Dibenz [a,h] anthracene and benzo [g,h,i]perylene had the lowest concentrations; each had median 0.73 ng/g dry weight. Concentrations in Kyiv were slightly higher than those in Dniprodzerzhinsk, but the diffe rence was significant only for dibenz[ a,h]anthracene. Dibenz[a,h] anthrace ne and benzo[g,h,i]perylene increased significantly with maternal body mass index, but other PAHs showed no such pattern. Placentas from deliveries in autumn or winter had slightly bur not significantly higher concentrations. Concentrations were not related to maternal age. There were too few smoker s in the sample for meaningful evaluation. No associations were seen betwee n any of the placental PAH concentrations and birth weight of the infant.