Glycolysis mediates the association between phthalate exposure and the prevalence of childhood asthma: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2018

Na Cao; Lifang Zhao; Ren Li; Yufen Liang; Zhihong Zhang

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Oct 2024)

Glycolysis mediates the association between phthalate exposure and the prevalence of childhood asthma: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2018

Na Cao,
Lifang Zhao,
Ren Li,
Yufen Liang,
Zhihong Zhang

Affiliations

Na Cao: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Yellow River Basin Ecological Public Health Security Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
Lifang Zhao: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Yellow River Basin Ecological Public Health Security Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
Ren Li: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Yellow River Basin Ecological Public Health Security Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
Yufen Liang: Yuncheng Central Hospital, Yuncheng 044000, China
Zhihong Zhang: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Yellow River Basin Ecological Public Health Security Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Corresponding author at: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 285
p. 117088

Abstract

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Identified as a critical risk factor for childhood asthma, environmental pollution plays a pivotal role. However, research on the effects and mechanisms of phthalates mixture and their interactions in relation to childhood asthma is still lacking. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted from 2009 to 2018, our research explored the link between phthalates in urine and the prevalence of childhood asthma. In this study, which involved 810 participants, we used four different statistical analysis methods to investigate the association between urinary phthalate levels and childhood asthma. Additionally, we conducted a mediation analysis to explore whether the impact mechanism of phthalate exposure on childhood asthma operates through the glycolysis. Among the participants, 525 (64.81 %) individuals were diagnosed with asthma, with 330 (40.74 %) individuals undergoing testing for glycolytic markers. Through Spearman correlation analysis and weighted principal component analysis (W-PCA), it was found that mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate (MECPP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethyl)-hexyl phthalate (MEHP) and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) are the four most highly correlated phthalates. In addition, comprehensive analysis by the weighted generalized linear models (W-GLM), weighted quantile sum (WQS) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models showed that phthalates mixture were positively associated with the prevalence of childhood asthma, especially MECPP, MEHHP and MEOHP. More importantly, glycolysis participated as a mediator in the relationship between MECPP, MEHHP and MEOHP exposure and the prevalence of childhood asthma, explaining 41.194 %, 38.322 % and 39.871 % of the effects respectively. Therefore, our study revealed that phthalate exposure is a risk factor for asthma in children, and glycolysis may be involved as a potential mediator in this process. This conclusion will be verified through more prospective studies in the future.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

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