Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based study

Abstract Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that can cause a variety of health problems. This study sought to determine whether there was a relationship between PAHs and current asthma in adults. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized data from the...

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Main Authors: Zhou Jin, Wen Sun, Guangfa Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21015-5
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author Zhou Jin
Wen Sun
Guangfa Wang
author_facet Zhou Jin
Wen Sun
Guangfa Wang
author_sort Zhou Jin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that can cause a variety of health problems. This study sought to determine whether there was a relationship between PAHs and current asthma in adults. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2016 and employed multifactor logistic regression, subgroup analyses, and smoothed curve fitting to examine the linear and nonlinear associations between PAHs and current asthma. Results A total of 8729 adult participants were included in the study. We found a linear positive association between current asthma and the six PAHs. In the fully adjusted model, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene, log 2-Hydroxyfluorene, and log 1-Hydroxypyrene remained significantly associated with current asthma. Subgroup analyses stratified by smoking status, gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) showed consistent associations between PAHs and current asthma, with some subgroups displaying stronger positive correlations. Specifically, positive correlations between log 1-Hydroxynaphthalene, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene, and log 2-Hydroxyfluorene with current asthma were independently significant in smokers. Among women, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene and log 2-Hydroxyfluorene were also significantly associated with current asthma. In participants with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, log 1-Hydroxynaphthalene, log 2-Hydroxynaphthalene, and log 1-Hydroxypyrene were significantly correlated with current asthma. For individuals aged 20–40 years, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene and log 1-Hydroxypyrene showed independent associations with current asthma, with age modifying the relationship between log 1-Hydroxypyrene and current asthma (p for interaction < 0.05), while p for interaction values in other subgroups were not statistically significant. Additionally, a variable relationship between log 1-Hydroxypyrene and current asthma was identified by smoothing curve fitting. The data suggested that below the inflection point of 1.87, the association fluctuates, while above this point, a linear increase in current asthma is observed, as indicated by a two-piecewise linear regression model. Conclusions We found a positive association between PAHs and current asthma in adults, with a variable relationship between log 1-Hydroxypyrene and current asthma, suggesting that high levels of 1-Hydroxypyrene exposure may increase the risk of current asthma. More prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.
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spelling doaj-art-a72f74c13e53402c9bfc6a3dcdfc18f22025-01-12T12:42:31ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111210.1186/s12889-024-21015-5Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based studyZhou Jin0Wen Sun1Guangfa Wang2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First HospitalDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First HospitalDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First HospitalAbstract Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that can cause a variety of health problems. This study sought to determine whether there was a relationship between PAHs and current asthma in adults. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2016 and employed multifactor logistic regression, subgroup analyses, and smoothed curve fitting to examine the linear and nonlinear associations between PAHs and current asthma. Results A total of 8729 adult participants were included in the study. We found a linear positive association between current asthma and the six PAHs. In the fully adjusted model, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene, log 2-Hydroxyfluorene, and log 1-Hydroxypyrene remained significantly associated with current asthma. Subgroup analyses stratified by smoking status, gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) showed consistent associations between PAHs and current asthma, with some subgroups displaying stronger positive correlations. Specifically, positive correlations between log 1-Hydroxynaphthalene, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene, and log 2-Hydroxyfluorene with current asthma were independently significant in smokers. Among women, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene and log 2-Hydroxyfluorene were also significantly associated with current asthma. In participants with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, log 1-Hydroxynaphthalene, log 2-Hydroxynaphthalene, and log 1-Hydroxypyrene were significantly correlated with current asthma. For individuals aged 20–40 years, log 3-Hydroxyfluorene and log 1-Hydroxypyrene showed independent associations with current asthma, with age modifying the relationship between log 1-Hydroxypyrene and current asthma (p for interaction < 0.05), while p for interaction values in other subgroups were not statistically significant. Additionally, a variable relationship between log 1-Hydroxypyrene and current asthma was identified by smoothing curve fitting. The data suggested that below the inflection point of 1.87, the association fluctuates, while above this point, a linear increase in current asthma is observed, as indicated by a two-piecewise linear regression model. Conclusions We found a positive association between PAHs and current asthma in adults, with a variable relationship between log 1-Hydroxypyrene and current asthma, suggesting that high levels of 1-Hydroxypyrene exposure may increase the risk of current asthma. More prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21015-5Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsAsthmaNHANES1-HydroxypyrenePopulation-based study
spellingShingle Zhou Jin
Wen Sun
Guangfa Wang
Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based study
BMC Public Health
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Asthma
NHANES
1-Hydroxypyrene
Population-based study
title Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based study
title_full Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based study
title_fullStr Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based study
title_full_unstemmed Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based study
title_short Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma: a population-based study
title_sort association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and current asthma a population based study
topic Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Asthma
NHANES
1-Hydroxypyrene
Population-based study
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21015-5
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AT guangfawang associationbetweenpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonsexposureandcurrentasthmaapopulationbasedstudy