Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2011, 8(8), 3365-3379; doi:10.3390/ijerph8083365
Article

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood from Pregnant Hispanic Women Living in Brownsville, Texas

Ken Sexton 1,* email, Jennifer J. Salinas 1 email, Thomas J. McDonald 2 email, Rose M. Z. Gowen 1 email, Rebecca P. Miller 3 email, Joseph B. McCormick 1 email and Susan P. Fisher-Hoch 1 email
1 University of Texas School of Public Health, Brownville Regional Campus, 80 Fort Brown–AHC, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA 2 School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M System Health Science Center, SRPH Building, College Station, TX 77843, USA 3 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Region 12, 5425 Polk Street, Houston, TX 77023, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 24 May 2011; in revised form: 5 August 2011 / Accepted: 8 August 2011 / Published: 17 August 2011
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Abstract: Venous blood was drawn from 35 pregnant Hispanic women living in Brownsville, Texas, and matched cord blood was collected at birth. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to measure concentrations of 55 individual PAHs or groups of PAHs. Results indicate that these women and their fetuses were regularly exposed to multiple PAHs at comparatively low concentrations, with levels in cord blood generally exceeding levels in paired maternal blood. While the possibility of related adverse effects on the fetus is uncertain, these exposures in combination with socioeconomically-disadvantaged and environmentally-challenging living conditions raise legitimate public health concerns.
Keywords: biomarkers; fetal exposure; maternal exposure; PAHs; prenatal exposure

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sexton, K.; Salinas, J.J.; McDonald, T.J.; Gowen, R.M.Z.; Miller, R.P.; McCormick, J.B.; Fisher-Hoch, S.P. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood from Pregnant Hispanic Women Living in Brownsville, Texas. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2011, 8, 3365-3379.

AMA Style

Sexton K, Salinas JJ, McDonald TJ, Gowen RMZ, Miller RP, McCormick JB, Fisher-Hoch SP. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood from Pregnant Hispanic Women Living in Brownsville, Texas. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2011; 8(8):3365-3379.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sexton, Ken; Salinas, Jennifer J.; McDonald, Thomas J.; Gowen, Rose M. Z.; Miller, Rebecca P.; McCormick, Joseph B.; Fisher-Hoch, Susan P. 2011. "Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood from Pregnant Hispanic Women Living in Brownsville, Texas." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 8, no. 8: 3365-3379.

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