Saliva as a Diagnostic Tool to Measure Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure in Dental Patients Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Authors

Aramandla Ramesh, Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience & Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address: aramesh@mmc.edu.
Leslie R. Halpern, Department of Dental Medicine, New York Medical College/ NYCHHC, Metropolitan Hospital, New York, USA.
Janet H. Southerland, Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Samuel E. Adunyah, Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience & Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA.
Pandu R. Gangula, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences & Research, School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1016/j.bj.2023.02.006

Journal Title

Biomedical Journal

First Page

100586

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2023

Department

Dental Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Social habits such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and chemically contaminated diet contribute to poor oral health. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global public health epidemic which can exacerbate the prevalence of health conditions affecting a victim's lifespan. This study investigates using saliva as a biomarker for detecting levels of benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]; a toxicant present in cigarette smoke and barbecued meat in a population of IPV + female patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional IRB-approved study utilized 63 female participants (37 African Americans [AA], and 26 non-African Americans [NAA]), who provided consent for the study. Participants submitted samples of saliva, as well as questionnaires about demographics, health history, and a well-validated (IPV) screen. RESULTS: The prevalence of IPV was greater in AA compared to NAA. While the concentrations of PAHs/B(a)P detected in saliva of IPV samples in NAA were generally within the range of B(a)P reported for saliva from elsewhere, the concentrations were high in some IPV positive samples. Among the B(a)P metabolites, the concentrations of B(a)P 7,8-diol, B(a)P 3,6- and 6,12-dione metabolites were greater than the other metabolite in both AA and non-AA groups who were positive. CONCLUSION: Our study supports the use of saliva as a potential "diagnostic rheostat" to identify toxicants that may exacerbate/precipitate systemic disease in female victims of IPV. In addition, our study is the first to report that IPV may precipitate the accumulation of B(a)P in oral cavity that can alter inflammatory cascades and increase risk of poor health outcomes in this population of patients.

Recommended Citation

Ramesh, A., Halpern, L. R., Southerland, J. H., Adunyah, S. E., & Gangula, P. R. (2023). Saliva as a Diagnostic Tool to Measure Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure in Dental Patients Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Biomedical Journal, 46 (6), 100586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2023.02.006