EnvironmentalResearch135(2014)354–360
 

Synergistic interactionbetweenpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbons and environmentaltobaccosmokeontheriskofobesityinchildren and adolescents:TheU.S.NationalHealthandNutritionExamination
Survey2003–2008

Hyun-WooKim a, SinKamb, Duk-HeeLee b,n
 

a b s t r a c t

Background: Polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs)maybeobesogens.However,theroleofPAHs
independent ofenvironmentaltobaccosmoke(ETS)isunclear,andtheinteractionbetweenPAHsand
ETS remainsunknown.

Methods: Weperformedcross-sectionalanalysesofurinaryconcentrationsofPAHmetabolites,body
mass index(BMI),andwaistcircumference(WC)in1985peopleaged6–18yearsusingdatafromthe
2003–2008U.S.NationalHealthandNutritionExaminationSurvey.ETSexposurelevelwasmeasuredas
serum cotininelevel.

Results: PAHmetaboliteswerepositivelyassociatedwithBMIandWCinboththeETS-unexposedand
ETS-exposedgroups.Theadjustedoddsratiosforgeneralobesitydefined byage-andsex-specific
BMIZ95th percentileacrossthequartilesoftotalPAHmetaboliteswere1,4.51,2.57,and8.09
(Ptrend¼0.003)intheETS-unexposedgroupand1,2.02,1.83,and3.86(Ptrendo0.001)intheETS-
exposedgroup.However,theassociationofPAHmetaboliteswithobesitybecamestrongerasserum
cotinine levelsincreased(Pinteractiono0.05). AmongthosewithhighETSexposure,theadjustedodds
ratios forgeneralobesityacrossquartilesoftotalPAHmetaboliteswere1,2.89,5.26,and16.29
(Ptrendo0.001).ComparedtothelowPAH-exposuregroupwithoutexposuretoETS,thehighETS-and
high PAH-exposuregrouphad33.85-and17.64-foldgreaterrisksofgeneralandcentralobesity,
respectively.

Conclusion: EnvironmentalexposuretoPAHsmaybeassociatedwithchildhoodobesityirrespectiveof
ETS. Inparticular,simultaneousexposuretoPAHsandETSmaysubstantiallyincreasetheriskofobesity.