Altered Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Biomarkers Concentrations in Pregnant Individuals Exposed to Oil and Gas Sites in Northeastern British Columbia

Overview

Journal Toxicol Sci

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Toxicology

Date 2024 Jun 19

PMID 38897649

Authors

Matthew W Day

Coreen Daley

Yifan Wu

Maduomethaa Pathmaraj

Marc-Andre Verner

Elyse Caron-Beaudoin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Northeastern British Columbia is a region of prolific unconventional oil and gas (UOG) activity. UOG activity can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can elevate oxidative stress and disrupt antioxidant activity in exposed pregnant individuals, potentially increasing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study measured biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in pooled urine samples of 85 pregnant individuals living in Northeastern British Columbia, to analyze associations between indoor air VOCs, oil and gas well density and proximity metrics, and biomarker concentrations. Concentrations of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase, total antioxidant capacity, 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (aMT6s), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and 8-isoprostane were measured using assay kits. Associations between exposure metrics and biomarker concentrations were determined using multiple linear regression models adjusted for biomarker-specific covariables. UOG proximity was associated with decreased SOD and 8-OHdG. Decreased 8-OHdG was associated with increased proximity to all wells. Decreased aMT6s were observed with increased indoor air hexanal concentrations. MDA was negatively associated with indoor air 1,4-dioxane concentrations. No statistically significant associations were found between other biomarkers and exposure metrics. Although some associations linked oil and gas activity to altered oxidative stress and antioxidant activity, the possibility of chance findings due to the large number of tests cannot be discounted. This study shows that living near UOG wells may alter oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in pregnant individuals. More research is needed to elucidate underlying mechanisms and to what degree UOG activity affects oxidative stress and antioxidant activity.

References

Chittick E, Srebotnjak T . An analysis of chemicals and other constituents found in produced water from hydraulically fractured wells in California and the challenges for wastewater management. J Environ Manage. 2017; 204(Pt 1):502-509. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.09.002. View

Walker Whitworth K, Kaye Marshall A, Symanski E . Drilling and Production Activity Related to Unconventional Gas Development and Severity of Preterm Birth. Environ Health Perspect. 2018; 126(3):037006. PMC: 6071723. DOI: 10.1289/EHP2622. View

Faraonio R, Vergara P, Di Marzo D, Pierantoni M, Napolitano M, Russo T . p53 suppresses the Nrf2-dependent transcription of antioxidant response genes. J Biol Chem. 2006; 281(52):39776-84. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M605707200. View

Shaw P, Chattopadhyay A . Nrf2-ARE signaling in cellular protection: Mechanism of action and the regulatory mechanisms. J Cell Physiol. 2019; 235(4):3119-3130. DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29219. View

Karamouzis I, Sarafidis P, Karamouzis M, Iliadis S, Haidich A, Sioulis A . Increase in oxidative stress but not in antioxidant capacity with advancing stages of chronic kidney disease. Am J Nephrol. 2007; 28(3):397-404. DOI: 10.1159/000112413. View

Rafiee A, Delgado-Saborit J, Sly P, Amiri H, Hoseini M . Exploring urinary biomarkers to assess oxidative DNA damage resulting from BTEX exposure in street children. Environ Res. 2021; 203:111725. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111725. View

Gechev T, Gadjev I, Van Breusegem F, Inze D, Dukiandjiev S, TONEVA V . Hydrogen peroxide protects tobacco from oxidative stress by inducing a set of antioxidant enzymes. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2002; 59(4):708-14. PMC: 11337419. DOI: 10.1007/s00018-002-8459-x. View

Uotila J, Tuimala R, Aarnio T, Pyykko K, Ahotupa M . Lipid peroxidation products, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E in normal pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1991; 42(2):95-100. DOI: 10.1016/0028-2243(91)90168-k. View

Casey J, Savitz D, Rasmussen S, Ogburn E, Pollak J, Mercer D . Unconventional Natural Gas Development and Birth Outcomes in Pennsylvania, USA. Epidemiology. 2015; 27(2):163-72. PMC: 4738074. DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000387. View

10.

Caron-Beaudoin E, Valter N, Chevrier J, Ayotte P, Frohlich K, Verner M . Gestational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada: A pilot study. Environ Int. 2017; 110:131-138. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.10.022. View

11.

Janicka M, Kot-Wasik A, Kot J, Namiesnik J . Isoprostanes-biomarkers of lipid peroxidation: their utility in evaluating oxidative stress and analysis. Int J Mol Sci. 2010; 11(11):4631-59. PMC: 3000105. DOI: 10.3390/ijms11114631. View

12.

Chen D, Cho S, Chen C, Wang X, Damokosh A, Ryan L . Exposure to benzene, occupational stress, and reduced birth weight. Occup Environ Med. 2000; 57(10):661-7. PMC: 1739869. DOI: 10.1136/oem.57.10.661. View

13.

Chuang K, Chan C, Su T, Lee C, Tang C . The effect of urban air pollution on inflammation, oxidative stress, coagulation, and autonomic dysfunction in young adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007; 176(4):370-6. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200611-1627OC. View

14.

Miller E, Walczak A, Majsterek I, Kedziora J . Melatonin reduces oxidative stress in the erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients with secondary progressive clinical course. J Neuroimmunol. 2013; 257(1-2):97-101. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2013.02.012. View

15.

Rodriguez C, Mayo J, Sainz R, Antolin I, Herrera F, Martin V . Regulation of antioxidant enzymes: a significant role for melatonin. J Pineal Res. 2003; 36(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1046/j.1600-079x.2003.00092.x. View

16.

Halliwell B . Why and how should we measure oxidative DNA damage in nutritional studies? How far have we come?. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000; 72(5):1082-7. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/72.5.1082. View

17.

Llurba E, Gratacos E, Martin-Gallan P, Cabero L, Dominguez C . A comprehensive study of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004; 37(4):557-70. DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.04.035. View

18.

Forman H, Zhang H . Targeting oxidative stress in disease: promise and limitations of antioxidant therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2021; 20(9):689-709. PMC: 8243062. DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00233-1. View

19.

Bojkowski C, Arendt J, Shih M, Markey S . Melatonin secretion in humans assessed by measuring its metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin. Clin Chem. 1987; 33(8):1343-8. View

20.

Lopez-Patino M, Gesto M, Conde-Sieira M, Soengas J, Miguez J . Stress inhibition of melatonin synthesis in the pineal organ of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is mediated by cortisol. J Exp Biol. 2014; 217(Pt 8):1407-16. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.087916. View