Biomarkers of genotoxicity of urban air pollution - Overview and descriptive data from a molecular epidemiology study on populations exposed to moderate-to-low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: the AULIS project

Epidemiologic studies indicate that prolonged exposure to high pollution le vels is associated with increased risk of cancer, especially lung cancer. H owever, under conditions of moderate or low air pollution, epidemiologic ev idence does not permit reliable conclusions. Biomarker-based population stu dies may serve as complementary tools providing a better understanding of t he relative contribution of ambient atmospheric pollution to the overall ge notoxic burden suffered by city dwellers. However, past efforts to apply bi omarkers to studies of low levels exposure to urban air pollution have give n inconclusive results, partly because of the absence of adequate data on p ersonal exposure, covering a time-window which is appropriate for the bioma rkers being examined, as well as a battery of biomarkers reflecting differe nt stages of the carcinogenic process. In the present paper, the potential of biomarker-based population studies t o aid the assessment of the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of urban air pollution is reviewed by reference to the achievements and limitations of earlier reported studies. The design and methodology adopted in a recently completed large-scale population study, carried out in the context of the E uropean Union Environment and Climate Programme, known by the short name of AULIS project,(1) is discussed and descriptive statistics of the main find ings of the project are presented. These findings indicate that for cohorts suffering moderate-to-low exposures to airborne particulate-bound polycycl ic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), no simple correlation with biomarkers of g enotoxicity existed and suggest that additional factors made a significant contribution to the overall genotoxic burden. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.