Dataset Information

Mercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES.

ABSTRACT: Immune dysregulation associated with mercury has been suggested, although data in the general population are lacking. Chronic exposure to low levels of methylmercury (organic) and inorganic mercury is common, such as through fish consumption and dental amalgams.We examined associations between mercury biomarkers and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity and titer strength.Among females 16-49 years of age (n = 1,352) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004, we examined cross-sectional associations between mercury and ANAs (indirect immunofluorescence; cutoff ? 1:80). Three biomarkers of mercury exposure were used: hair (available 1999-2000) and total blood (1999-2004) predominantly represented methylmercury, and urine (1999-2002) represented inorganic mercury. Survey statistics were used. Multivariable modeling adjusted for several covariates, including age and omega-3 fatty acids.Sixteen percent of females were ANA positive; 96% of ANA positives had a nuclear speckled staining pattern. Geometric mean (geometric SD) mercury concentrations were 0.22 (0.03) ppm in hair, 0.92 (0.05) ?g/L blood, and 0.62 (0.04) ?g/L urine. Hair and blood, but not urinary, mercury were associated with ANA positivity (sample sizes 452, 1,352, and 804, respectively), after adjusting for confounders: for hair, odds ratio (OR) = 4.10 (95% CI: 1.66, 10.13); for blood, OR = 2.32 (95% CI: 1.07, 5.03) comparing highest versus lowest quantiles. Magnitudes of association were strongest for high-titer (? 1:1,280) ANA: hair, OR = 11.41 (95% CI: 1.60, 81.23); blood, OR = 5.93 (95% CI: 1.57, 22.47).Methylmercury, at low levels generally considered safe, was associated with subclinical autoimmunity among reproductive-age females. Autoantibodies may predate clinical disease by years; thus, methylmercury exposure may be relevant to future autoimmune disease risk.

SUBMITTER: Somers EC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4529012 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES.

Somers Emily C EC Ganser Martha A MA Warren Jeffrey S JS Basu Niladri N Wang Lu L Zick Suzanna M SM Park Sung Kyun SK

Environmental health perspectives 20150210 8

<h4>Background</h4>Immune dysregulation associated with mercury has been suggested, although data in the general population are lacking. Chronic exposure to low levels of methylmercury (organic) and inorganic mercury is common, such as through fish consumption and dental amalgams.<h4>Objective</h4>We examined associations between mercury biomarkers and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity and titer strength.<h4>Methods</h4>Among females 16-49 years of age (n = 1,352) from the National Health an ...[more]

PMID: 25665152

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Clinical reports link specific medications with the development of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), but population-based evidence is limited. OBJECTIVE:The present study investigated associations between prescription medication use and ANA in a representative sample of the adult noninstitutionalized US population, first focusing on medications previously related to ANA and then considering all medications reported in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS:Based on NHANES data (1999-2004) for 3608 adults (ages ?18 years), we estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess associations between recent medication use and ANA (overall and in sex and age subgroups), adjusted for potential confounders and the survey sampling design. RESULTS:We found no evidence that most medications previously associated with ANA in specific individuals were risk factors for ANA in the general population, although statistical power was limited for some medications. Overall, ANA were less prevalent in adults who recently used any prescription medications compared with those who did not (OR?=?0.73; CI?=?0.57,0.93), and likewise several classes of medications were inversely associated with ANA, including hormones (OR?=?0.73; CI?=?0.55,0.98), thiazide diuretics (OR?=?0.43; CI?=?0.24,0.79), sulfonylureas (OR?=?0.41; CI?=?0.19,0.89), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (OR?=?0.65; CI?=?0.42,0.98). Positive associations with ANA were seen for loop diuretics (OR?=?1.72; CI?=?1.03,2.88) in all adults, and for benzodiazepines (OR?=?2.11; CI?=?1.09,4.10) and bronchodilators (OR?=?1.83; CI?=?1.00,3.38) in older (ages ?60) adults. Estrogens were positively associated with ANA in older women (OR?=?1.80; CI?=?1.00,3.23) but inversely associated with ANA in younger (ages 18-59) women (OR?=?0.43; CI?=?0.20,0.93). Regarding individual medications, ANA were positively associated with ciprofloxacin (OR?=?4.23; CI?=?1.21,14.8), furosemide (OR?=?1.79; CI?=?1.09,2.93), and omeprazole (OR?=?2.05; CI?=?1.03,4.10) in all adults, and with salmeterol (OR?=?3.76; CI?=?1.66,8.52), tolterodine (OR?=?6.64; CI?=?1.45,30.5), and triamterene (OR?=?3.10; CI?=?1.08,8.88) in older adults. Also, in younger adults, hydrochlorothiazide was inversely associated with ANA (OR?=?0.44; CI?=?0.20,0.98). CONCLUSIONS:Our findings in the general population do not confirm most clinically reported positive associations between specific medications and ANA in some individuals. However, novel positive ANA associations with other medications, as well as unexplained inverse associations with certain classes of medications and overall medication use, deserve further research to clarify the possible roles of medications as risk and protective factors in the development of autoantibodies and autoimmune disease.

Project description:BackgroundThe prevalence of autoimmunity in the U.S. has increased recently for undetermined reasons. Little is known about associations between autoimmunity and environmental causes.ObjectivesIn a large representative sample of the U.S. population, we expanded our prior exploratory study of how exposures to selected xenobiotics and dioxin-like (DL) mixtures relate to antinuclear antibodies (ANA), the most common biomarker of autoimmunity.MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data on 12,058 participants aged ≥ 12 years from three time periods of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1988 and 2012, of whom 14% were ANA-positive. We used lognormal regression models and censored-data methods to estimate ANA associations with xenobiotic concentrations overall and in sex, age, and race/ethnicity subgroups. Our analyses adjusted for potential confounders and appropriately handled concentrations below detection limits.ResultsObserved ANA associations were positive for most DL compounds and nonDL polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), negative for most phthalates, and mixed for other xenobiotic classes. After correcting for multiple comparisons, some associations remained statistically significant. In subgroup analyses, the most significant finding was a positive ANA association with N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxy-3-butenyl)-L-cysteine (MHB2) in males, followed by positive associations with 2,2',3,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 44), 2,2',4,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 49), and 2,2',3,4',5',6-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 149) in 12-19 year-olds, and with 3,4,4',5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 81), 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6-nonachlorobiphenyl (PCB 206), and N-acetyl-S-(phenyl)-L-cysteine (PMA) in Mexican Americans. Negative associations were found with mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) in 20-49 year-olds and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) in 12-19 year-olds. In overall analyses, combining stratum-specific results across race/ethnicity strata revealed a positive ANA association with PCB 81 and a negative ANA association with N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine (HEMA).DiscussionThis study identified potential associations between ANA and various xenobiotics. Further investigation to confirm these observations and elucidate effects of certain xenobiotics on immune regulation could have important mechanistic, preventive, and treatment implications for a variety of immune-mediated disorders.

Project description:Employers play a vital role in promoting and supporting tobacco use cessation among tobacco-using workers. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is a preventable cause of complications in pregnancy and adverse infant health outcomes.To estimate cigarette smoking prevalence and attempts to quit among working women of reproductive age in different industries and occupations using a nationally representative survey.The 2009-2013 National Health Interview Survey data for women of reproductive age (18-49 years) who were working in the week prior to the interview (n = 30855) were analyzed. Data were adjusted for nonresponse and weighted to produce nationally representative estimates.During 2009-2013, among working women of reproductive age, an estimated 17.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.7-17.8) and 12.9% (95% CI: 12.4-13.4) were current and former cigarette smokers, respectively. Of women who smoke daily, 44.5% (95% CI: 42.5-46.5) had made a quit attempt for more than 1 day in the year before the interview. Cigarette smoking prevalence was highest among women working in the construction industry (29.2%; 95% CI: 22.8-35.7) and in construction and extraction occupations (34.6%; 95% CI: 23.4-45.9). Among working women who were pregnant at the time of the interview, 6.8% (95% CI: 4.4-9.2) and 20.4% (95% CI: 16.9-24.0) were current and former cigarette smokers, respectively.Cigarette smoking prevalence varies by industry and occupation. Intensifying tobacco control efforts in high prevalence industries and occupations could result in higher cessation rates and improvements in health among women of reproductive age.This study identified discrepancies in cigarette smoking among women of reproductive age across industries and occupations. In the absence of smoke-free local and state laws, employer-established smoke-free policies and workplace cessation programs are important for achieving reduction of tobacco use among women and for protecting other workers' health. Results in this report may assist in developing educational campaigns targeting women in industries and occupations with high prevalence of cigarette smoking and low percentage of ever-smokers who had quit.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Hepato- and nephrotoxicity of fluoride have been demonstrated in animals, but few studies have examined potential effects in humans. This population-based study examines the relationship between chronic low-level fluoride exposure and kidney and liver function among United States (U.S.) adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate whether greater fluoride exposure is associated with altered kidney and liver parameters among U.S. youth. METHODS:This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2016). We analyzed data from 1983 and 1742 adolescents who had plasma and water fluoride measures respectively and did not have kidney disease. Fluoride was measured in plasma and household tap water. Kidney parameters included estimated glomerular filtration rate (calculated by the original Schwartz formula), serum uric acid, and the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio. Liver parameters were assessed in serum and included alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and albumin. Survey-weighted linear regression examined relationships between fluoride exposure and kidney and liver parameters after covariate adjustment. A Holm-Bonferroni correction accounted for multiple comparisons. RESULTS:The average age of adolescents was 15.4?years. Median water and plasma fluoride concentrations were 0.48?mg/L and 0.33??mol/L respectively. A 1??mol/L increase in plasma fluoride was associated with a 10.36?mL/min/1.73?m2 lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (95% CI: -17.50, -3.22; p?=?0.05), a 0.29?mg/dL higher serum uric acid concentration (95% CI: 0.09, 0.50; p?=?0.05), and a 1.29?mg/dL lower blood urea nitrogen concentration (95%CI: -1.87, -0.70; p?<?0.001). A 1?mg/L increase in water fluoride was associated with a 0.93?mg/dL lower blood urea nitrogen concentration (95% CI: -1.44, -0.42; p?=?0.007). CONCLUSIONS:Fluoride exposure may contribute to complex changes in kidney and liver related parameters among U.S. adolescents. As the study is cross-sectional, reverse causality cannot be ruled out; therefore, altered kidney and/or liver function may impact bodily fluoride absorption and metabolic processes.

Dataset Information

Mercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES.

Publications

Mercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES.

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