Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sex hormones in children and adolescents: Evidence from NHANES

Abstract

BackgroundEvidences showed that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) do harm to human body. However, the association between PAHs and sex hormones in children and adolescents remains unclear. ObjectivesThe study aims to investigate the associations between PAHs and sex hormones in the general children and adolescent population. Methods967 participants aged 6–19 with complete data of PAHs exposure biomarkers, covariates and sex hormones [total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)] were recruited from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2013–2016. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated with TT/SHBG. Multivariate linear regression models were performed in six subgroups (male children, male adolescents, male late adolescents, female children, female adolescents and female late adolescents) to estimate the associations between sex hormone alterations and PAHs exposure. ResultsIn male puberty adolescents, weighted multivariate linear regression indicated that negative trends for 2-Hydroxynaphthalene, 1-Hydroxyphenanthrene, 2&3-Hydroxyphenanthrene and E2 (2-Hydroxynaphthalene: β: −0.104, 95%CI: −0.180, −0.029, P < 0.01; 1-Hydroxyphenanthrene: β: −0.112, 95%CI: −0.206, −0.018, P = 0.019; 2&3-Hydroxyphenanthrene: β: −0.125, 95%CI: −0.232, −0.018, P = 0.022), while exposure to 2-Hydroxynaphthalene was related to TT reduction (β: −0.099, 95%CI: −0.177, −0.020, P = 0.014). Same pattern between 2&3-Hydroxyphenanthrene and E2 alteration (2&3-Hydroxyphenanthrene: β: −0.139, 95%CI: −0.236, −0.041, P < 0.01) was also observed in male late adolescents. In male children, we determined that 1-Hydroxyphenanthrene was negatively associated with SHBG (β: −0.121, 95%CI: −0.205, −0.037, P < 0.01), while the same patterns were observed in male puberty children. We did not observe any significant result in female subgroups. All these results above were determined to have q value < 0.05. ConclusionPAHs exposure was associated with the alterations of sex hormones in male adolescents and children. Considering the cross-sectional study design, further large-scale epidemiological study is necessary.