Association between exposure to a mixture of dichlorophenol and parabens and lung function in adults from NHANES,...

Few studies have examined the effects of dichlorophenol and parabens on lung function, with most focusing on individual chemicals.

This study analyzes the effects of these chemicals on single or mixed exposures on lung function in adults.

We utilized data from the 2007-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), focusing on urinary levels of dichlorophenol, parabens, and lung function measures. The generalized linear regression (GLM), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to assess the impact of chemical exposure on lung function.

A total of 2,599 adults with complete data were included in the analysis. Detection rates exceeding 75 % for 2,5-Dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), 2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), methyl paraben, and propyl paraben were observed. In GLMs, 2,5-DCP was significantly negatively associated with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), either as a continuous (FVC: β = -0.012, 95 % CI = -0.018, -0.006; FEV1: β = -0.010, 95 % CI = -0.017, -0.004) or quartile variable (FVC: β = -0.027, 95 % CI = -0.039, -0.016; FEV1: β = -0.024, 95 % CI = -0.036, -0.011). The WQS regression confirmed a negative effect of the chemical mixture on lung function, with significant associations for both FVC (β = -0.013, 95 % CI = -0.018, -0.008) and FEV1 (β = -0.013, 95 % CI = -0.017, -0.007). These results were consistent in BKMR models.

Exposure to dichlorophenol and parabens, either individually or in combination, is associated with decreased lung function in humans.