Human biomonitoring of phthalate exposure and serum estradiol levels in U.S. adult males

Phthalates are lipid-like molecules that are used in a variety of household and commercial products, which expose humans to contaminated food, water, and soil. After exposure, phthalates are metabolized to molecules that can act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs can disrupt a multitude of biological processes, including neurological, metabolic, and reproductive, which results in a variety of health complications. Reproductive hormones, which play a vital role in development, metabolism, and reproductive health in men, are affected by phthalates.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between toxic environmental exposure to phthalates and the effect on estradiol levels in males aged 20 years and older in the US.

Dataset cycles 2013-2016 were utilized from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multiple statistical analyses were conducted using R software, version 4.2.3.

This study observed a bi-directional relationship between phthalate exposure and estradiol levels in US males aged 20 years and older. MEP (odds ratio [OR] 1.412, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.026-1.944) and MHNCH (ORs 1.416 and 1.461, 95% CI: 1.008-2.062) demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlations with estradiol levels, and MEP (OR 0.612, 95% CI: 0.375-1.000), MHP (ORs 0.357-0.365, 95% CI: 0.131-0.986), MECPP (OR 0.559, 95% CI: 0.314-0.998), MCP (OR 0.467, 95% CI: 0.224-0.971), and MEHP (ORs 0.501-0.599, 95% CI: 0.259-0.974) demonstrated statistically significant inverse correlations with estradiol levels. Demographic factors of race and ethnicity, marital status, country of origin, body mass index, and smoking status were correlated with abnormal estradiol levels.