Association of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and obesity in children aged 3–18: Canadian Health Measures Survey 2009–2015
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2019-12-06
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Bushnik, Tracey
- Wong, Suzy L.
- Holloway, Alison C.
- Thomson, Errol M.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may contribute to obesity. Childhood obesity is a strong predictor of adult obesity and morbidity; however, the relationship between PAHs and obesity in young children (e.g., aged 3–5) has not been studied. We examined the association between urinary PAH metabolites and measures of obesity in children. We analyzed data from 3667 children aged 3–18 years who participated in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS, 2009–2015). We ran separate multivariable linear models to estimate the association between quartiles of PAH metabolites and each of body mass index (BMI) percentile, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in the total population, as well as in the age subgroups 3–5, 6–11, and 12–18, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, income quintile, diet, creatinine, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. A multinomial logistic regression model estimated adjusted odds ratios for risk of central obesity. BMI, WC, and WHtR were positively associated with total PAH and naphthalene metabolites in the total population aged 3–18 and in age groups 6–11 and 12–18. In 3–5 year olds, WHtR, but not BMI, was significantly associated with total PAH, naphthalene, and phenanthrene metabolites. Overall, those in the highest quartile for naphthalene or total PAH metabolites had three times greater odds of having central obesity compared with those in the lowest quartile. Urinary PAH metabolites are associated with WHtR, an indicator of central obesity and predictor of health risks associated with obesity, in children as young as 3–5.
Plain language summary
As part of Health Canada's mandate to protect the health of Canadians, the Department assesses health risks from environmental factors to which Canadians may be exposed. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are combustion products to which people are exposed primarily through the air and grilled foods. In addition to being known carcinogens, PAHs may contribute to obesity. In the present study, researchers from Health Canada, Statistics Canada, and McMaster University studied whether PAHs were associated with childhood obesity. Using data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, they examined the relationship between PAHs in urine and three measures of obesity: BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio. They found that higher PAH levels were associated with greater incidence of obesity in children as young as 3-5 years old. This work adds to the evidence that chemicals in the environment may contribute to obesity, and suggests that further research is warranted to assess whether there is a causal relationship between PAH exposure and obesity.
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety