Associations between 3-phenoxybenzoic acid levels and hematological measures in adults: Korean National Environmental Health Survey 2012–2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pyrethroid insecticides have been widely used for pest control in agriculture and residential spaces due to their high insecticidal effectiveness and low toxicity to humans. Several animal studies suggested that exposure to pyrethroids may induce bone marrow toxicity, resulting in inhibiting blood cell production. However, no studies have reported the effect of pyrethroid insecticide exposure on hematological changes in humans without occupational exposure. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) concentrations in urine on hematological parameters in Korea's representative adult population. METHODS: We analyzed data from 6,296 Korean adults recruited in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2nd round, 2012–2014). A multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of urinary 3-PBA levels with eight hematological profiles of white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), platelet, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). RESULTS:Urinary 3-PBA levels showed a negative association with WBC, RBC, Hb levels and a positive association with MCV levels. The association varied by sex and age. The adverse effects of 3-PBA levels on hematological parameters were more pronounced among men aged 60 years and older. Among this age group, 3-PBA concentrations were negatively associated with WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, and MCHC levels in men. However, among adults aged below 60 years, no associations were found between 3-PBA concentrations and any of hematological measure in either male or female. The associations remained significant on sensitivity analysis after controlling other urinary chemicals. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first study reporting evidence that 3-PBA concentration in urine, at levels found in a Korean population, may influence blood cell counts. This novel finding merits further investigation to understand the impact of 3-PBA on human blood function and population health. KEYWORDS: Pesticides, Environmental epidemiology, Biomarkers of exposure, Epidemiology, Big data