Associations of morning urinary 1-bromopropane metabolite with peripheral blood parameters in a community-based population

Abstract

BackgroundAs an environmental pollutant, 1-bromopropane (1-BP) is ubiquitous in the living environment. However, its health effects on the general population are still unclear. ObjectiveTo assess the associations between urinary 1-BP metabolite and blood routine indices in a Chinese community population. MethodsA total of 3512 community residents aged 18-80 years from the baseline of the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort were included in our study. The demographic characteristics, disease history, and lifestyles of the participants were collected through questionnaires. Height, weight, blood pressure, and other anthropometrics were collected through physical examination. Blood routine indicators were tested using an automated hematology analyzer. Urinary 1-BP metabolite N-Acetyl-S-(n-propyl)-L-cysteine (BPMA) was measured by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Generalized linear models and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of urinary BPMA with blood routine indices and the risks of abnormal blood routine indices, respectively. Besides, stratified analysis and effect modification analysis were further conducted to investigate the effects of individual characteristics and lifestyles on the associations of urinary BPMA with blood routine indices. All models were adjusted for gender, age, and other potential confounders.ResultsThe mean age of the study population (30.1% male) was (52.78±12.77) years. The median (P25, P75) level of urinary BPMA adjusted for urinary creatinine was 0.90 (0.50, 1.73) mg·mol−1. In the analysis with target indicator as continuous variable, each 1-unit increase in natural logarithm-transformed urinary BMPA level was associated with a 0.078×109 L−1, 0.031×109 L−1, 0.307%, 3.518 g·L−1, and 2.469×109 L−1 decrease in white blood cell, lymphocyte, lymphocyte percentage, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet levels, respectively (all Ps<0.05); and with a 0.440%, 1.140 fL, 0.014 fL, and 0.020 increase in hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and natural logarithm-transformed levels of mean platelet volume and mean platelet volume/platelet, respectively (all Ps<0.05). The categorical analysis across quartiles of BPMA level showed that BPMA was inversely associated with lymphocyte percentage, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet levels in a dose-dependent manner (all Ptrend<0.05), and positively related to hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean platelet volume, and mean platelet volume/platelet levels in a dose-dependent manner (all Ptrend<0.05). Body mass index, smoking, and drinking modified the associations of urinary BPMA level with red blood cell, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration lymphocyte percentage, and hemoglobin (all Ps<0.05). In addition, urinary BPMA was associated with an increased risk of abnormal increase in mean corpuscular volume (OR=1.316, 95%CI: 1.171-1.478) and red blood cell volume distribution width (OR=1.255, 95%CI: 1.030-1.528), and abnormal decrease in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (OR=1.200, 95%CI: 1.035-1.392). ConclusionExposure to 1-BP of the general population is associated with decreased white blood cells and platelets, as well as abnormal change of blood cell morphology or function.

Keywords

• 1-bromopropane
• n-acetyl-s-(n-propyl)-l-cysteine
• blood routine index
• hematotoxicity
• cross-sectional study