Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Environmental Health, 23(1), 76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-024-01114-x Dr. Jack Rubinstein et al.
Points
- The study investigated the effects of environmental phenol exposure on cardiac electrical properties in adults from the Fernald Community Cohort (FCC).
- In females, exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol F (BPF) was significantly associated with a longer PR interval and increased QRS duration, indicating delayed cardiac conduction.
- Higher triclocarban (TCC) levels in males were linked to a prolonged QTc interval, suggesting delayed ventricular repolarization.
- Body mass index (BMI) was associated with increased PR and QTc intervals and increased ventricular rate in females, while in males, BMI was linked to an increased ventricular rate.
- The findings highlight sex-specific differences in susceptibility to phenol exposure, indicating a potential cardiovascular impact and the importance of understanding environmental risk factors for cardiac health.
Summary
This study investigated the effects of environmental phenol exposure on cardiac electrical properties in adults from the Fernald Community Cohort (FCC). Researchers aimed to identify electrocardiographic (ECG) changes associated with exposure to phenols, including bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and triclocarban (TCC). Urine samples and ECGs were collected during comprehensive medical examinations, and cross-sectional linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations between phenol levels and ECG parameters, including PR interval, QRS duration, and QTc interval.
In females, BPA and BPF were significantly associated with a longer PR interval (p < 0.05), indicating delayed atrial-to-ventricle conduction. In contrast, BPA combined with BPF was associated with an increased QRS duration (p < 0.05), reflecting delayed ventricular activation. Conversely, in males, a higher level of triclocarban (TCC) was significantly linked to a prolonged QTc interval (p < 0.01), suggesting delayed ventricular repolarization. Notably, body mass index (BMI) was associated with increased PR and QTc intervals and increased ventricular rate in females, while in males, BMI was linked to an increased ventricular rate. Among females in the highest tertile of BPA urinary concentration and BMI, an estimated 10% increase in the PR interval was observed.
The findings indicate that exposure to specific phenols is linked to alterations in cardiac electrical function, with sex-specific differences in susceptibility. These ECG changes are related to known pathophysiological cardiac conditions, emphasizing the potential cardiovascular impact of phenol exposure in the general population. This study highlights the importance of understanding environmental factors contributing to cardiac health, particularly in identifying sex-specific risks associated with phenol exposure.
Link to the article: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-024-01114-x
References Rubinstein, J., Pinney, S. M., Xie, C., & Wang, H.-S. (2024). Association of same-day urinary phenol levels and cardiac electrical alterations: Analysis of the Fernald Community Cohort. Environmental Health, 23(1), 76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-024-01114-x
