Persistent Organic Pollutants and Kidney Function over a 6-year follow-up: Findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Abstract

Background: Few studies have evaluated associations between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and kidney function. We aimed to determine if levels of POPs measured at baseline were associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) after 6 years of follow up. Methods: We measured serum levels of multiple polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and persistent pesticides, and markers of kidney function among participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Persistent Organic Pollutants, Endogenous Hormones and Diabetes in Latinos Ancillary Study. The ancillary study selected males and females aged 45 to 74 years with normal glucose or prediabetes at baseline. Individual weighted linear regression models were used to examine if natural log (ln) transformed summary measures of POP concentrations were associated with eGFR and ln transformed ACR at study visit 2, adjusting for baseline kidney function, time between visits, and relevant covariates. Results: The study included 1,072 participants (mean age 54 years, 80% born outside the United States, baseline geometric mean ACR 6.3 mg/g, and mean eGFR 93 ml/min/1.73 m2). Total PBDEs were inversely associated with eGFR at visit 2 (β=-1.5 (95% CI -2.8, -0.26) ml/min/1.73 m2 for an increase of 1 lnPBDE, p=0.02). An increase of 1 ln∑PCB concentration was associated with an increase of β=0.14 (95% CI -0.01, 0.29) mg/g in lnACR (p=0.06). We observed similar positive associations between total estrogenic PCBs (p=0.01) and Warner CYP2B PCBs (p=0.04) with ACR. An increase of 1 lnDDE concentration was associated with a decrease in lnACR (β=-0.08 (95% CI -0.15, -0.01) mg/g, p=0.02). Conclusions: The estimated changes observed suggest that POPs may play a role in kidney disease. Possible mechanisms awaiting further exploration include interference with cytochrome p450 activity by PCBs and inhibition of activity of endogenous androgens harmful to kidney function by DDT/DDE.