Project: Interactions between PAHs in complex mixtures and toxicological effects
The methods commonly used for assessing the toxicity of complex environmental mixtures probably significantly underestimate the risk of exposure to human health since they do not take into account interactions which potentially give rise to synergistic effects. Our aim is to improve the risk assessment of complex environmental mixtures.
One major group of environmental pollutants is the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, which have been linked with numerous adverse health effects including cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, developmental effects, premature mortality and increased infant mortality. The goal of this project is to investigate the harmful effects of exposure to complex mixtures of PAHs and other environmental pollutants, and to improve the scientific base for risk assessment of human exposure to complex environmental mixtures.
In the project we study the effects of complex mixtures of PAHs in environmental samples on DNA damage and repair, inflammation and development. Samples are obtained from urban and biomass burning air particulate matter and soil collected at urban as well as industrial locations. The test systems we use are human cell lines and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.
Our published data indicate that complex environmental PAH mixtures induce unexpected and persistent DNA damage signalling responses. We also show that the more polar PAHs, including the oxygenated PAHs, exert significant biological activity and should thus be included in the risk assessment. Our hypothesis is that synergistic effects between different PAHs and other pollutants in complex mixtures represent a major carcinogenic effect and there is an urgent need to include these interactions in health risk assessment.
In this project we collaborate with Dr. Ioannis Sadiktsis at Stockholm University, Prof Gisela de Arag茫o Umbuzeiro at UNICAMP, Limeira, Brazil, and Prof Silvia Batistuzzo at UFRN, Natal, Brazil.
Financing
- Cancer and Allergy foundation
- Stockholm City Department of Environment
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
- Swedish Research Council FORMAS
- STINT/CAPES
Publications
de Oliveira Galv茫o MF, Sadiktsis I, Marques Pedro T, Dreij K
Environ Int 2022 Jun;166():107345
Lim H, Sadiktsis I, de Oliveira Galv茫o MF, Westerholm R, Dreij K
Sci Total Environ. 2021 Feb 10;755(Pt 1):142709
Cunha V, Vogs C, Le Bihanic F, Dreij K
Environ Int 2020 Jun;143():105913
Maselli BS, Cunha V, Lim H, Bergvall C, Westerholm R, Dreij K, et al
Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2020 Jun;61(5):560-573
Dreij K, Lundin L, Le Bihanic F, Lundstedt S
Environ. Res. 2020 Mar;182():108989
Genotoxicity and DNA damage signaling in response to complex mixtures of PAHs in biomass burning particulate matter from cashew nut roasting.
de Oliveira Galv茫o MF, Sadiktsis I, Batistuzzo de Medeiros SR, Dreij K
Environ. Pollut. 2019 Oct;():113381
Comparative mutagenic activity of atmospheric particulate matter from Limeira, Stockholm, and Kyoto.
Maselli BS, Giron MCG, Lim H, Bergvall C, Westerholm R, Dreij K, et al
Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2019 08;60(7):607-616
McCarrick S, Cunha V, Zapletal O, Vondr谩膷ek J, Dreij K
Environ. Pollut. 2019 Mar;246():678-687
Cancer Risk Assessment of Airborne PAHs Based on in Vitro Mixture Potency Factors.
Dreij K, Mattsson 脜, Jarvis IWH, Lim H, Hurkmans J, Gustafsson J, et al
Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017 Aug;51(15):8805-8814
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation and developmental toxicity in zebrafish in response to soil extracts containing unsubstituted and oxygenated PAHs.
Wincent E, J枚nsson ME, Bottai M, Lundstedt S, Dreij K
Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015 Mar;49(6):3869-77
Detection of benz[j]aceanthrylene in urban air and evaluation of its genotoxic potential.
Lim H, Mattsson 脜, Jarvis IW, Bergvall C, Bottai M, Morales DA, et al
Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015 Mar;49(5):3101-9
Jarvis I, Dreij K, Mattsson 脜, Jernstr枚m B, Stenius U
Toxicology 2014 Jul;321():27-39
Umbuzeiro G, Kummrow F, Morales D, Alves D, Lim H, Jarvis I, et al
Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2014 Jul;55(6):510-7
Jarvis I, Bergvall C, Bottai M, Westerholm R, Stenius U, Dreij K
Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 2013 Feb;266(3):408-18