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

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.