Biomarkers of Effect Found Associated with Chemical Exposure in a Community Population

Toxicology Letters Volume 184, Issue 2, 30 January 2009, Pages 139-144
Community level exposure to chemicals and oxidative stress in adult population

Yun-Chul Honga, b, Eun-Young Parka, Min-Seon Parkc, Jeong Ah Koc, Se-Young Ohd, Ho Kime, Kwan-Hee Leef, Jong-Han Leemf and Eun-Hee Hag, ,

aDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
bInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
cDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
dDepartment of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
eDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Seoul National University School of Public Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea
fDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea
gDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical School, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Little information is available on the role of environmental chemical exposure in oxidative stress. This study was designed to investigate whether exposure to environmental chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, bisphenol A or phthalates, induces oxidative stress in urban adult populations. A total of 960 adults dwelling in urban areas were evaluated between April and December 2005. To assess environmental chemical exposure, we measured urinary levels of 1-hydroxypyrene, 2-naphthol, hippuric acid, methyl hippuric acid, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, and mono-butyl phthalate and bisphenol A. Urinary malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were also measured to evaluate oxidative stress. Significant dose-responsive relationship was found between urinary concentrations of the chemical exposure biomarkers and oxidative stress levels in simple regression analyses (P <>). Regression coefficients of these exposure biomarkers except bisphenol A remained significantly in the multiple regression models after controlling for age, sex, weight, smoking, and exercise for at least one of the two oxidative stress biomarkers (P <> The oxidative stress biomarkers significantly affected the indicators of insulin resistance, particularly glucose level. This study indicates that environmental chemical exposure is associated with oxidative stress in urban adult populations and suggests that exposure to certain environmental chemicals might contribute to insulin resistance.
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BrookkynDodger(s) comment: The Dodger(s) generally fear that community survey projects like this will generate spurious null results. So finding an association should be considered of special weight. The investigators identify a pathway from oxidative stress to diabetes. Oxidative stress is relatively easily measured in live people as an intermediate outcome. This broadens the range of conditions which may be caused by occupational or environmental chemical exposures.