Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, arsenic, and metal exposure and correlation with emphysema in smokers

Environmental exposure to metals and chemicals can increase the risk of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases in the human population. This study aimed to analyze seven forms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), seven types of arsenic species, fourteen types of urinary metals including antimony, barium, cadmium, cesium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, strontium, thallium, tin, tungsten, uranium, and the link with emphysema in the US adult cigarette smoking population.

A specialized weighted complex survey design analysis using 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets was conducted. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between urinary metals, arsenic, PAHs, and emphysema in adult smokers. R software was used to conduct the statistical analysis.

All 4th quantile concentrations of PAHs, including 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 3-hydroxyfluorene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxypyrene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 2 & 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, were significantly associated with emphysema in smokers. The 3rd quantile of 1-hydroxypyrene were also associated with increased odds of emphysema in smokers. Among arsenic and metals, the 4th quantile of cadmium was associated with an increased odds of emphysema in smokers. The 3rd quantile of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and 4th quantile of mercury were found to have inverse relationships with emphysema in smokers. Several demographic factors had significant associations with emphysema in smokers.

Urinary PAHs and cadmium were associated with increased odds of emphysema in smokers. DMA and mercury had an inverse association with emphysema in smokers.