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Childhood exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiometabolic indicators in childhood and adolescence : findings from a cohort study in rural Bangladesh

Trask, Mercedes ; Rahman, Syed Moshfiqur ; Kampouri, Mariza ; Raqib, Rubhana ; Ekström, Eva Charlotte LU ; Kajantie, Eero ; Islam, Mohammad Redwanul ; Krais, Annette M. LU orcid ; Lindh, Christian LU orcid and Rahman, Anisur , et al. (2025) In Environmental Research 278.
Abstract

Background: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, but studies examining childhood origins are scarce. Objective: To examine associations of childhood PAH exposure with cardiometabolic risk indicators in childhood and adolescence along with differences by sex. Methods: Urinary PAH metabolites [Σ1,2,3-hydroxyphenanthrene (Σ1,2,3-OH Phe), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH Pyr), and Σ2,3-hydroxyfluorene (Σ2,3-OH Flu)] were measured in 9-year-olds from the MINIMat cohort in Bangladesh (n = 196), using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Cardiometabolic indicators [lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin resistance (HOMA2 IR), blood pressure, anthropometry,... (More)

Background: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, but studies examining childhood origins are scarce. Objective: To examine associations of childhood PAH exposure with cardiometabolic risk indicators in childhood and adolescence along with differences by sex. Methods: Urinary PAH metabolites [Σ1,2,3-hydroxyphenanthrene (Σ1,2,3-OH Phe), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH Pyr), and Σ2,3-hydroxyfluorene (Σ2,3-OH Flu)] were measured in 9-year-olds from the MINIMat cohort in Bangladesh (n = 196), using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Cardiometabolic indicators [lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin resistance (HOMA2 IR), blood pressure, anthropometry, and a composite cardiometabolic risk score (CMRS)] were assessed at 9 and 15 years. Associations of PAH metabolites (log2-transformed) with cardiometabolic indicators were assessed using multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models. Results: In all children, urinary 1-OH Pyr (median: 1.6 ng/mL) was positively associated with body mass index z-score at 9 and 15 years, and with triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (HDL), cholesterol/HDL ratios, waist circumference, CMRS, and CRP at 15 years. After sex stratification, consistent associations were mainly observed in girls, especially with outcomes at age 15, where both urinary 1-OH Pyr and Σ1,2,3-OH Phe concentrations were inversely associated with HDL, and positively associated with the cholesterol/HDL ratio and CMRS. Urinary 1-OH Pyr was also positively associated with girls’ triglyceride/HDL ratio, HOMA2 IR, waist circumference, and CRP. Conclusions: Our associations of childhood PAH exposure with cardiometabolic indicators in childhood and adolescence differed by sex. In girls, increased adiposity, indications of altered lipid profile and metabolic function were detected while boys seemed incongruently affected.

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Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescence, Cardiometabolic risk indicators, Childhood, Dyslipidemia, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Pyrene
in
Environmental Research
volume
278
article number
121653
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105003409849
  • pmid:40254235
ISSN
0013-9351
DOI
10.1016/j.envres.2025.121653
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
id
949342a4-8604-4281-ad23-2e54c8a460e5
date added to LUP
2025-07-14 14:55:00
date last changed
2025-07-16 02:52:52
@article{949342a4-8604-4281-ad23-2e54c8a460e5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, but studies examining childhood origins are scarce. Objective: To examine associations of childhood PAH exposure with cardiometabolic risk indicators in childhood and adolescence along with differences by sex. Methods: Urinary PAH metabolites [Σ1,2,3-hydroxyphenanthrene (Σ1,2,3-OH Phe), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH Pyr), and Σ2,3-hydroxyfluorene (Σ2,3-OH Flu)] were measured in 9-year-olds from the MINIMat cohort in Bangladesh (n = 196), using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Cardiometabolic indicators [lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin resistance (HOMA2 IR), blood pressure, anthropometry, and a composite cardiometabolic risk score (CMRS)] were assessed at 9 and 15 years. Associations of PAH metabolites (log<sub>2</sub>-transformed) with cardiometabolic indicators were assessed using multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models. Results: In all children, urinary 1-OH Pyr (median: 1.6 ng/mL) was positively associated with body mass index z-score at 9 and 15 years, and with triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (HDL), cholesterol/HDL ratios, waist circumference, CMRS, and CRP at 15 years. After sex stratification, consistent associations were mainly observed in girls, especially with outcomes at age 15, where both urinary 1-OH Pyr and Σ1,2,3-OH Phe concentrations were inversely associated with HDL, and positively associated with the cholesterol/HDL ratio and CMRS. Urinary 1-OH Pyr was also positively associated with girls’ triglyceride/HDL ratio, HOMA2 IR, waist circumference, and CRP. Conclusions: Our associations of childhood PAH exposure with cardiometabolic indicators in childhood and adolescence differed by sex. In girls, increased adiposity, indications of altered lipid profile and metabolic function were detected while boys seemed incongruently affected.</p>}},
  author       = {{Trask, Mercedes and Rahman, Syed Moshfiqur and Kampouri, Mariza and Raqib, Rubhana and Ekström, Eva Charlotte and Kajantie, Eero and Islam, Mohammad Redwanul and Krais, Annette M. and Lindh, Christian and Rahman, Anisur and Kippler, Maria}},
  issn         = {{0013-9351}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescence; Cardiometabolic risk indicators; Childhood; Dyslipidemia; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Pyrene}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Research}},
  title        = {{Childhood exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiometabolic indicators in childhood and adolescence : findings from a cohort study in rural Bangladesh}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.121653}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envres.2025.121653}},
  volume       = {{278}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}