Serum polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in relation to biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004

Abstract

Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has been associated with various adverse health outcomes related to liver, neural and endocrine systems. Some of these may be the result of PBDE-induced oxidative stress or inflammation, but these associations have been explored minimally in humans. In the present study we examined the relationship between PBDE concentrations and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation measured in blood samples among a representative US sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Oxidative stress biomarkers showed no significant associations with PBDEs in adjusted regression models. For inflammation biomarkers, we observed small but statistically significant positive associations between BDE-153 and alkaline phosphatase (percent change with an interquartile range [IQR] increase in BDE-153=0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.01, 1.65) and absolute neutrophil count (percent change with IQR increase in BDE-153=0.53%, 95% CI=0.03, 1.04). Associations with other PBDE congeners and inflammation markers were generally positive but did not reach statistical significance. These results are consistent with human research of oxidative stress and inflammation in response to PBDE congeners and mixtures, and support previous reports of inflammation in response to PBDE treatment in animal and in vitro studies. More detailed toxicological and epidemiologic research in humans is needed to confirm the present results, and to determine the potential clinical and public health significance of these findings.

Keywords: Blood biomarkers; C-reactive protein; Flame retardants; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Reactive oxygen species.

Figure 1

Adjusteda Percent Change (95% Confidence Intervals) in Oxidative Stress or Inflammmation Biomarker in Association with PBDE quintiles for: a) GGT; b) bilirubin; c) ALP; d) ANC; and e) CRP. Footnote: Abbreviations: GGT, gamma glutamyl transferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ANC, absolute neutrophil count; CRP, C-reactive protein. ^aModels adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, poverty income ratio, body mass index, ln-serum cotinine, and ln-serum lipid level.** p <0.05, * p <0.10.