Individual and joint association of phenols, parabens, and phthalates with childhood lung function: Exploring the mediating role of peripheral immune responses

Association between urinary exposures and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in smokers: results from NHANES 2007-2016

Objective

This study aims to shed light on the connection of urinary exposures with risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among smokers, thereby providing scientific evidence for the prevention and intervention of COPD.

Methods

Data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2016 were utilized, including 3,973 smokers aged 20 or older. We employed the weighted multivariate logistic and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to delve into the link of urinary concentrations of exposures to COPD risk. Additionally, restricted cubic spline regression was utilized to examine the dose-response relationship between biomarker concentrations and COPD risk. The stability of the associations across different participant characteristics was evaluated through subgroup and mediation analyses.

Results

Our study encompassed a total of 3,973 participants, of whom 472 were diagnosed with COPD. Regression analyses revealed the inverse association between urinary concentrations of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and propyl paraben (PrP) and COPD risk. Higher quartiles of BP-3 and PrP exhibited lower COPD incidence [BP-3: odds ratio (OR) = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) (0.47, 0.89), p = 0.007; PrP: OR = 0.56, 95%CI (0.36, 0.86), p = 0.008]. Significant synergistic interactions among urinary exposures were observed [WQS: 0.75, 95%CI (0.65, 0.88), p = 0.026], with BP-3 and PrP contributing 40.31 and 40.01% to the weighted analysis, respectively. Mediation analysis proved that inflammatory markers, such as white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), significantly mediated the association between BP-3, PrP, and COPD risk (all p-values <0.05).

Conclusion

BP-3 and PrP in environmental exposure in smokers have an inverse correlation with COPD risk, with WBC and NLR partially mediating this association.

Associations between exposure to brominated flame retardants and hyperlipidemia risk in U.S. Adults

BACKGROUND

Environmental exposure to toxic brominated flame retardants (BFRs) has been confirmed to have detrimental effects on human health. The impact of serum BFRs on hyperlipidemia risk has not been sufficiently examined. Our objective is to identify both the individual and combined effects of serum BFRs on hyperlipidemia and to further investigate the most influential chemicals.

METHODS

We included 7,009 individuals with complete details on 9 types of serum BFRs, hyperlipidemia, and other covariates from the NHANES in 2007-2016. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the individual impact of BFRs exposure on hyperlipidemia risk. We assessed the cumulative effect of BFRs on hyperlipidemia risk through weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (QGC), and Bayesian kernel machine regression models.

RESULTS

PBDE 28, PBDE 47, PBDE 85, PBDE 99, PBDE 100, PBDE 154, PBDE 209, and PBB153 were found to be positively associated with hyperlipidemia risk. The results of WQS and QGC revealed consistent positive correlation. PBDE209 emerged as the most significant chemicals exerting influence. The restricted cubic splines regression further identified significant dose-response relationship.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to individual and combined serum BFRs has been associated with an increased risk of hyperlipidemia. The causal relationship still requires confirmation through large-scale cohort studies.

Exposure to urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites for the effect of lung function among children and adolescents: Epidemiological study and mechanism exploration

Human are widely exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), but existing evidence about exposure to urinary PAHs metabolites for pulmonary health in children and adolescents is limited. Our aim was to examine the effect of single and mixed exposure of urinary PAHs metabolites on lung function among children and adolescents. We included 1417 individuals aged 6-19 years from 3 survey cycles (2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012) of NHANES program. Multivariable linear regression model was conducted to examine the relationship between urinary PAHs metabolites and lung function index including FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC. BKMR and WQS model were used to evaluate the joint effects of PAHs metabolites for lung function index. Mediation analyses were performed to investigate the mediating role of inflammation related index. Hub proteins were screened by network toxicology and validated using molecular docking. Our results indicated that 3-FLU was negatively linked with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC; 1-OHP was negatively linked with FEV1; 1-PYR was negatively linked with FEV1 and FVC. In addition, 3-OHP was positively corrected with three lung function parameters. In BKMR and WQS models, PAHs metabolites co-exposure was all negatively corrected with FEV1 and FVC. Systemic inflammation response index mediated the relationship between I-PYR and FEV1 as well as FVC, with the 8 % and 6 % proportion. IL-6, STAT3, TNF, and TP53 were screened and validated as the common targets related with PAHs, inflammation and lung function by molecular docking analysis. Taken together, our findings raise the concerns about the potential hazards of environmentally relevant PAHs metabolites exposure for respiratory system in the vulnerable population and guide future research into the toxic mechanisms of PAHs metabolites-mediated lung function injury, which has important public health implications.

Individual and mixture analyses of the associations of phenols and phthalates with lung function among US adults

The effects of endocrine disruptors including phenols and phthalates on adult lung function remain unclear. In the present study, data from 2007-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were extracted, and 4338 participants were included in the final analyses. The associations of three phenols and four phthalate metabolites with six lung function parameters were investigated. In generalized linear regression models (GLM) and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses, bisphenol A (BPA) was associated with decreased forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), and 2,5-dichlorophenol (DCP) was associated with reduced FEV1, FVC and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), and increased prevalence of restrictive lung function (RLF) in adults. Furthermore, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models demonstrated that mixed exposures to phenols and phthalates were linked to reduced FEV1, FVC and PEF and increased prevalence of RLF, and these associations were mainly driven by BPA and 2,5-DCP. In conclusion, mixed exposure to phenols and phthalates was linked to compromised and a restrictive pattern of lung function. The mechanisms of the effects of phenol and phthalate exposures on lung function and respiratory diseases need to be further investigated.

Propylparaben-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress triggers G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and initiates caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human lung cells

BACKGROUND

Propylparaben (PrP) is commonly used as an antimicrobial agent in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. While recent studies have shown that PrP exposure can cause various disruptions in cellular physiology, the precise mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we sought to examine the cytotoxic effects of PrP exposure on human lung cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We utilized flow cytometry to analyze the expression of proteins associated with the cell cycle and apoptosis at the single-cell level.

RESULTS

Our results showed that PrP treatment leads to a significant upregulation of genes related to ER stress. The activation of ER stress results in a decrease in cyclin B1 levels, which subsequently causes cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. After 48 h of PrP exposure, the unfolded protein response (UPR) triggers an apoptotic signaling pathway, increasing the number of cells undergoing caspase-3-mediated apoptosis. Together, these physiological changes lead to a reduction in cell viability in the presence of PrP.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that PrP exerts harmful effects on human lung cells by activating ER stress, which can lead to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Associations of phenols, parabens, and phthalates with biological aging: stratified analyses by chronological age and lifestyle in NHANES 2005-2010

Humans are widely exposed to phenols, parabens, and phthalates with health risks, while the effects of these chemicals on biological aging remain unclear. Among 3,441 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010, phenol, paraben, and phthalate concentrations were measured and phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) was calculated. Linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were used to evaluate the associations of single and mixed chemicals with PhenoAgeAccel. Stratified analyses by chronological age and lifestyle were also performed. Individual phthalates were positively associated with PhenoAgeAccel. The WQS model found the positive relationship between mixed chemicals with PhenoAgeAccel (β = 0.175, 95%CI: 0.001, 0.349). The adverse impacts of phenols and phthalates on biological aging were stronger in older participants with significant interactions. Adherence to healthier lifestyle might partly reduce the positive relationships of phenols and phthalates with biological aging, especially among older adults, which is expected to be a viable intervention in the future.

The Association Between the Non-essential Metal Mixture and Handgrip Strength in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults

There is limited research on the effects of non-essential metal (NEM) mixture on handgrip strength in the elderly. This study aimed to assess the associations of single NEMs and their mixture with handgrip strength in Chinese community-dwelling older adults. A total of 3807 elderly people aged 60 years or above were included in this study. Measurement of urinary aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), and gallium (Ga) concentrations was conducted by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Handgrip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer. Four statistical models, including general linear regression and generalized additive models (GAMs), as well as Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based computation regression (QGC) models, were used to assess the individual and joint effects of urine NEMs with handgrip strength, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, Ga (ß = - 0.27; 95% CI, - 0.54 ~  - 0.01) and As ( β  = - 0.34; 95% CI, - 0.61 ~  - 0.07) were negatively associated with handgrip strength. The GAMs and BKMR further suggested that the negative associations of Ga and As with handgrip strength were linear and inverted U-shaped, respectively. The BKMR and QGC models showed that the NEM mixture was negatively related to handgrip strength, with Ga and As contributing the most within the mixture. Moreover, we also observed an interaction between As and Ga on handgrip strength. Longitudinal studies are needed to verify these findings.

Associations of prenatal exposure to phthalates and their mixture with lung function in Mexican children

Early life phthalates exposure has been associated with adverse respiratory outcomes. However, evidence linking prenatal phthalates exposure and childhood lung function has been inconclusive. Additionally, few studies have examined phthalates exposure as a mixture and explored sexually dimorphic associations. We aimed to investigate sex-specific associations of prenatal phthalates mixtures with childhood lung function using the PROGRESS cohort in Mexico (N = 476). Prenatal phthalate concentrations were measured in maternal urine collected during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Children's lung function was evaluated at ages 8-13 years. Individual associations were assessed using multivariable linear regression, and mixture associations were modeled using repeated holdout WQS regression and hierarchical BKMR; data was stratified by sex to explore sex-specific associations. We identified significant interactions between 2nd trimester phthalates mixture and sex on FEV1 and FVC z-scores. Higher 2nd trimester phthalate concentrations were associated with higher FEV1 (β = 0.054, 95 %CI: 0.005, 0.104) and FVC z-scores (β = 0.074, 95 % CI: 0.024, 0.124) in females and with lower measures in males (FEV1, β = -0.017, 95 %CI: -0.066, 0.026; FVC, β = -0.014, 95 %CI: -0.065, 0.030). This study indicates that prenatal exposure to phthalates is related to childhood lung function in a sex-specific manner.

Association between carotenoids and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the United States

BACKGROUND

Previous studies mainly concentrated on examining the correlation between single carotenoids and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, these findings have been inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate both the individual and overall associations of carotenoids with the prevalence of COPD.

METHODS

This study comprised 2,939 participants chosen from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. The logistic regression, quantile-based G-computation regression (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were employed to explore the association between carotenoids and the prevalence of COPD. Mediation analyses were also conducted to explore the underlying mechanism of carotenoids on COPD.

RESULTS

Individuals diagnosed with COPD had significantly lower serum carotenoid concentrations than those without COPD. We found a negative relationship between combined carotenoids and the prevalence of COPD, and lutein and zeaxanthin and alpha cryptoxanthin were identified as the main contributors to this negative association. Moreover, eosinophil acted as a mediator in the relationship between lutein and zeaxanthin, alpha cryptoxanthin, and the prevalence of COPD, with mediating proportions of 2.75 % and 3.67 %.

CONCLUSION

A negative association was observed between combined carotenoids and COPD prevalence, with lutein and zeaxanthin, and alpha cryptoxanthin identified as the main contributors. Eosinophils could potentially mediate the association between carotenoids and COPD.

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting plasticisers and lung function in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting plasticisers (EDPs), such as phthalates and bisphenols, has been associated with reduced lung function in children and adolescents. However, the existing literature yields conflicting results. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the epidemiologic evidence investigating the association between EDP exposure and lung function in children and adolescents. A comprehensive search of five databases identified 25 relevant studies. We employed a random-effects meta-analysis on spirometry measures. The effect size of interest was the change in lung function in standard deviation (SD) units resulting from a two-fold increase in exposure levels. We found that certain phthalates marginally reduced lung function in children. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was reduced by a two-fold increase in mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) (β = -0.025 SD, 95%CI: 0.042, -0.008), mono-ethyl-oxo-hexyl phthalate (MEOHP) (β = -0.035 SD, 95%CI: 0.057, -0.014) and mono-carboxy-nonyl phthalate (MCNP) (β = -0.024 SD, 95%CI: 0.05, -0.003). Forced vital capacity (FVC) was decreased by a two-fold increase in MBzP (β = -0.022 SD, 95%CI: 0.036, -0.008) and MEOHP (β = -0.035 SD, 95%CI: 0.057, -0.014) levels. A two-fold increase in MCNP levels was associated with lower FEV1/FVC (β = -0.023 SD, 95%CI: 0.045, -0.001). Furthermore, a two-fold increase in MEOHP levels reduced forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75) (β = -0.030 SD, 95%CI: 0.055, -0.005) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) (β = -0.056 SD, 95%CI: 0.098, -0.014). Notably, associations were more pronounced in males. Given the potential for reverse causation bias, the association between childhood exposure to EDPs and lung function remains uncertain. Overall, our meta-analysis showed small reductions in lung function with higher phthalate exposure. However, future studies are warranted in younger age groups.

Association between brominated flame retardants exposure and markers of oxidative stress in US adults: An analysis based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016

We aimed to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress indicators and brominated flame retardant (BFR) levels in US adults. Using data from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) from 2007 to 2016, 8028 participants aged 18 and over were enrolled in this study. PBDE28, PBDE47, PBDE85, PBDE99, PBDE100, PBDE153, PBDE154, PBDE209, and PBB153, with over 75 % detection rates, were extracted in this study. Survey-weighted linear regression model, weighted quantile sum (WQS) model, and quantile-based g calculation (QGC) model were used to assess the correlation between serum BFRs levels and oxidative stress indicators (serum bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT]). Besides, the nonlinear association was explored using restricted cubic splines (RCS). Each of the BFRs was confirmed by the survey-weighted linear regression model to be positively associated with GGT after controlling for variables, and BFRs except for PBDE153 were positively associated with serum bilirubin. Except for PBDE153, serum bilirubin in the highest quartile of BFRs was significantly higher than in the lowest high quartile. Additionally, except for PBDE85, serum GGT in the highest quartile of BFRs was higher than in the lowest high quartile. A significant nonlinear association between all BFRs with bilirubin and the PBDE153, PBDE209, and PBB153 with GGT was identified by RCS analysis. By WQS analysis, combined BFR exposure was associated with serum GGT (β: 0.093; 95 % CI = 0.066-0.121; P < 0.0001) and bilirubin (β: 0.090; 95 % CI = 0.068-0.113; P < 0.0001). QGC analysis found a similar correlation between BFR mixtures with serum GGT (β: 0.098; 95 % CI = 0.075-0.120; P < 0.0001) and bilirubin (β: 0.073; 95 % CI = 0.048-0.097; P < 0.0001). Exposure to BFRs is positively associated with markers of oxidative stress (serum bilirubin and GGT) in US adults, which needs further exploration by a large-scale cohort study.