Association between exposure to alkylbenzenes and cardiovascular disease among National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that air pollution is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Alkylbenzenes are ubiquitous in outdoor and indoor air environments. Yet few studies have evaluated the potential links between exposures to alkylbenzenes and CVD independent of tobacco smoking. In this study, we used the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the relationship between alkylbenzenes (toluene, styrene, ethylbenzene, and the xylenes) and CVD prevalence. All five alkylbenzenes suggested linear trends. Subjects in higher exposure categories of blood alkylbenzenes had higher prevalence of CVD, as compared to subjects in the reference group, of below the limit of detection (LOD) and less than the 50th percentile in the case of toluene and styrene. For the remainder of the alkylbenzes, similar statistically significant associations were observed. Further studies are needed to explore associations between these highly prevalent pollutants and CVD.

Associations of serum concentrations of organochlorine pesticides with breast cancer and prostate cancer in U.S. adults.

BACKGROUND: Organochlorine (OC) pesticides are a group of environmental endocrine disruptors that may be associated with an increased risk for hormone-related cancers including cancers of the breast and prostate. However, epidemiologic evidence is limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We used 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data to examine associations between serum concentrations of OC pesticides and prostate and breast cancers. RESULTS: After adjustment for other covariates, serum concentrations of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) (p for trend = 0.02), trans-nonachlor (p for trend = 0.002), and dieldrin (p for trend = 0.04) were significantly associated with the risk of prevalent prostate cancer. Adjusted odds ratios for the second and third tertiles of detectable values were 1.46 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.52-4.13] and 3.36 (95% CI, 1.24-9.10) for beta-HCH; 5.84 (95% CI, 1.06-32.2) and 14.1 (95% CI, 2.55-77.9) for trans-nonachlor; and 1.06 (95% CI, 0.30-3.73) and 2.74 (95% CI, 1.01-7.49) for dieldrin compared with concentrations in the lowest tertile or below the limit of detection. However, there was no positive association between serum concentrations of OC pesticides and breast cancer prevalence. CONCLUSION: Although further study is necessary to confirm these findings, these results suggest that OC pesticide exposures may have a significant effect on cancer risk. Efforts to reduce worldwide OC use are warranted.

Studying associations between urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiovascular diseases in the United States.

The association between background, enduring environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiovascular diseases has not been well studied in the general population. In this study, we used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2004 to investigate the associations between eight monohydroxy PAHs (OH-PAHs) and self-report CVD. In a logistic regression model adjusting for cigarette smoking and other covariates, phenanthrene metabolite, 2-hydroxyphennathrene (2-PHEN), was significantly associated with self-report CVD. Compared to subjects within the lowest tertile of 2-PHEN, subjects within the middle and highest tertiles had higher self-report CVD (the 2nd tertile: AOR=1.29, 95%CI: 0.97-1.72; the 3rd tertile: AOR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.01-2.07; p for trend=0.04). In addition, fluorene metabolite (i.e. 2-hydroxyfluorene) also showed a marginally significant linear trend with self-report CVD (p for trend=0.07). Further studies are necessary to explore the associations between these highly prevalent pollutants and CVD.

Racial differences in the effects of postnatal environmental tobacco smoke on neurodevelopment.

OBJECTIVES: We used the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the association between postnatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure, measured as serum cotinine levels, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children 4 to 15 years of age. We further investigated the interactions of race and serum cotinine levels with ADHD. METHODS: Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations. RESULTS: This study found that the prevalence of ADHD increased as blood cotinine levels increased. The effects of blood cotinine levels on ADHD differed according to race. Compared with children of the same racial group with the lowest blood cotinine levels, the odds ratios were 2.72 (95% confidence interval: 1.25-5.93) for Mexican American children and 5.32 (95% confidence interval: 1.55-18.3) for children in other racial groups with the highest blood cotinine levels, with controlling for the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy. However, no significant associations between blood cotinine levels and ADHD were observed among non-Hispanic white or non-Hispanic black children. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study underscore the possibility of racial disparities in the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on behavioral problems in children. These findings warrant further investigation.