Urinary polyaromatic hydrocarbons are associated with adult emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and infections: US NHANES, 2011–2012

Abstract

Links between environmental chemicals and human health have emerged over the last few decades, but the effects from polyaromatic hydrocarbons were less studied, compared to other commonly known environmental chemicals such as heavy metals, phthalates, arsenic, phenols, pesticides, etc. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the relationships of urinary polyaromatic hydrocarbons and adult respiratory health conditions using a large human sample in a national and population-based setting in recent years. Data were retrieved from United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2011–2012 including demographics, self-reported health conditions, and urinary polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Statistical analyses including chi-square test, t test, and survey-weighted logistic regression modeling were performed. Of 5560 American adults aged 20–80, urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene and 3-hydroxyfluorene were positively associated with emphysema (OR, 1.60, 95 % CI 1.26 to 2.03, P = 0.001 and OR, 1.42, 95 % CI 1.15 to 1.77, P = 0.003, respectively) and chronic bronchitis (OR, 1.42, 95 % CI 1.04 to 1.94, P = 0.031 and OR, 1.40, 95 % CI 1.03 to 1.91, P = 0.036, respectively), while 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-naphthol) was likely to be borderline associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Conversely, urinary 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxypyrene, and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene were inversely associated with asthma and infections. Urinary polyaromatic hydrocarbons are associated with adult respiratory health conditions, although the causality cannot be established. For future research, studies using large human sample across regions to longitudinally monitor would be suggested. For practice and policy-making, regulation on minimizing polyaromatic hydrocarbons exposure to protect respiratory health might need to be considered in future health and environmental policies and intervention programs.

Systemic inflammation mediates environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to increase chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk in United States adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study

“…Our study also found that FLU was positively associated with SII, and the mediating effect showed that SII mediated the association between FLU and COPD prevalence risk, but other types of PAHs exposure levels were not significantly associated with SII. As a result of its association with chronic bronchitis, FLU has been linked to various lung diseases (26), emphysema, asthma (27), lung infection, and COPD, which in line with our study's findings (28).…”

Environmental Substances Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease—A Scoping Review

“…The selected studies were either review or cross-sectional studies. Exposure to PAHs was associated with diminished lung function and various respiratory symptoms and diseases, such as COPD and chronic bronchitis [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. Furthermore, occupational exposure became evident in the review by van der Molen et al, 2018 [ 7 ], according to which diverse exposures at work to vapors, dusts, gases, and fumes (VDGF) were associated with COPD.…”

Systematic Review of Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Obstructive Lung Disease

“…Of the four case-control studies, only two 48 , 49 gave eligibility criteria for case and control, sources of data and method of case ascertainment, and control selection. All twelve cross-sectional studies 17 – 18 , 26 , 29 , 34 – 41 reported inclusion and exclusion criteria, source of data, and method of selection of participants. Seven studies 8 , 39 – 40 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 50 did not explain how to control for confounding factors.…”

“…The studies in this review have a number of strengths. A significant proportion of the studies (twenty-two studies) 17 – 19 , 21 , 22 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 34 – 37 , 39 , 41 , 42 – 47 , 49 , 52 were conducted using a relatively large number of study participants ranging from 222 to 15 447. This has the statistical relevance of controlling for the risk of reporting false negative findings (type II error).…”