Associations of Exposure to Typical Environmental Organic Pollutants with Cardiopulmonary Health and the Mediating Role of Oxidative Stress: A Randomized Crossover Study.

Ning GAO; Bin WANG; Ran ZHAO; Han ZHANG; Xiao Qian JIA; Tian Xiang WU; Meng Yuan REN; Lu ZHAO; Jia Zhang SHI; Jing HUANG; Shao Wei WU; Guo Feng SHEN; Bo PAN; Ming Liang FANG

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Associations of Exposure to Typical Environmental Organic Pollutants with Cardiopulmonary Health and the Mediating Role of Oxidative Stress: A Randomized Crossover Study.

Author: Ning GAO ¹ ; Bin WANG ² ; Ran ZHAO ³ ; Han ZHANG ¹ ; Xiao Qian JIA ¹ ; Tian Xiang WU ¹ ; Meng Yuan REN ¹ ; Lu ZHAO ¹ ; Jia Zhang SHI ⁴ ; Jing HUANG ⁴ ; Shao Wei WU ⁵ ; Guo Feng SHEN ⁶ ; Bo PAN ⁷ ; Ming Liang FANG ⁸
Author Information

1. Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
2. Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
3. Peking University Third Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics, Engineering Research Center of Bone and Joint Precision Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China.
4. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
5. Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, China.
6. Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
7. Yunnan Provincial Key Lab of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China.
8. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Publication Type:Randomized Controlled Trial
Keywords: Cardiopulmonary health; Mediating effects; Organic pollutants; Oxidative stress; Risk assessment
MeSH: Humans; Oxidative Stress/drug effects*; Male; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Young Adult; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity*; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*; Biomarkers/blood*; Adult; Blood Pressure/drug effects*; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/urine*; Beijing
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(11):1388-1403
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:The study aim was to investigate the effects of exposure to multiple environmental organic pollutants on cardiopulmonary health with a focus on the potential mediating role of oxidative stress.
METHODS:A repeated-measures randomized crossover study involving healthy college students in Beijing was conducted. Biological samples, including morning urine and venous blood, were collected to measure concentrations of 29 typical organic pollutants, including hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs), bisphenol A and its substitutes, phthalates and their metabolites, parabens, and five biomarkers of oxidative stress. Health assessments included blood pressure measurements and lung function indicators.
RESULTS:Urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-PHE) ( β = 4.35% [95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.85%, 7.97%]), 3-hydroxyphenanthrene ( β = 3.44% [95% CI: 0.19%, 6.79%]), and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (4-OH-PHE) ( β = 5.78% [95% CI: 1.27%, 10.5%]) were significantly and positively associated with systolic blood pressure. Exposures to 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR) ( β = 3.05% [95% CI: -4.66%, -1.41%]), 2-OH-PHE ( β = 2.68% [95% CI: -4%, -1.34%]), and 4-OH-PHE ( β = 3% [95% CI: -4.68%, -1.29%]) were negatively associated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity. These findings highlight the adverse effects of exposure to multiple pollutants on cardiopulmonary health. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, including 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and extracellular superoxide dismutase, mediated the effects of multiple OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function.
CONCLUSION:Exposure to multiple organic pollutants can adversely affect cardiopulmonary health. Oxidative stress is a key mediator of the effects of OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function.