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. 2024 Jun 24;14(1):14523.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-64908-6.

Associations of ethylene oxide exposure with depression in American adults

Meng Wang #  1 , Chao Liu #  2 , Quan Liu  3 , Ruizhen Bai  4
Affiliations

Associations of ethylene oxide exposure with depression in American adults

Meng Wang et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Ethylene oxide (EO) is an organic compound known for its high reactivity and negative impact on human health, but its adverse effects on depression remain poorly understood. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2884 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2013 and 2016. Participants were classified into four groups according to quartiles of log10-transformed hemoglobin adducts of EO (HbEO) levels. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between EO exposure and the risk of depression. Finally, we evaluated whether the association was mediated by inflammatory factors. Individuals with depression exhibited higher levels of hemoglobin adducts of ethylene oxide (HbEO) compared to those without depression. After adjusting for all covariates, patients in the highest quartile of HbEO (Q4 group) had a higher risk of depression, using the lowest quartile (Q1 group) as the reference group [odds ratio (OR) = 2.21, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): (1.47, 3.40)]. Additionally, the relationship between EO levels and the prevalence of depression followed a non-linear U-shaped pattern. Furthermore, inflammatory cells showed a positive correlation with EO levels. Moreover, white blood cells and neutrophils significantly mediated the relationship between HbEO and the risk of depression with mediated proportions of 14.70 and 12.55%, respectively. Exposure to ethylene oxide increases the risk of depression. Inflammatory factors partially mediated the observed association between EO exposure and depression.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of participants selection from NHANES 2013–2016.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relative risk of depression according to log10-transformed hemoglobin ethylene oxide (HbEO) levels in the overall population. The solid line and shadow represented the odds ratio of depression and 95% confidence interval, respectively. Dashed vertical line indicated the threshold (log10-transformed HbEO = 1.33 pmol/g Hb) with the lowest risk of depression. All covariates were adjusted in this model.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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