Serum persistent organic pollutants levels and stroke risk

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 233; pp. 855 - 861
• Main Authors: Lim, Jung-eun, Lee, Sunju, Lee, Sunmi, Jee, Sun Ha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018
• Subjects: blood serum; body mass index; DDE (pesticide); Endocrine disruptors; hypertension; mass spectrometry; persistent organic pollutants; physical activity; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Prospective studies; regression analysis; risk factors; smoking (habit); Stroke; Endocrine disruptors; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Stroke; Prospective studies
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.031

Knowledge of environmental risk factors for stroke and their role are limited. We performed a case-cohort study to evaluate the association between serum persistent organic pollutants (POPs) level and stroke risk. 526 subcohort members and 111 stroke incidence cases were identified from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II. Serum levels of POPs were measured using gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. The hazard ratios (HRs) for stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic, and all stroke types) were estimated using the weighted Cox regression model. Age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, family history of cardiovascular disease, and hypertension were adjusted in the weighted Cox regression model. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, increased risk for stroke was observed among participants with serum concentration of p,p'-DDE in the highest tertile compared to those in the lowest tertile (HR = 4.10, 95% CI: 1.58, 10.59). A similar association was estimated for PCB118 (HR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.04, 5.22), PCB156 (HR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.42, 8.23), and PCB138 (HR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.48, 9.76). For TEQ, stroke was three times as likely to occur among subjects with TEQ in the highest tertile compared to those in the lowest tertile (HR = 3.12, 95% CI: 1.27, 7.65). PCBs were positively associated with ischemic stroke, but not with hemorrhagic stroke. Elevated serum POPs levels were associated with an increased risk of stroke, especially ischemic stroke. [Display omitted] •This study is the first prospective study of the association between serum POPs level and stroke risk.•Serum levels of 32 PCBs and 19 OCPs were measured.•Several POPs levels were associated with an increased risk of developing stroke.•Increased stroke risk was observed among participants with TEQ in the highest tertile compared to those in the lowest tertile.•PCBs were positively associated with ischemic stroke but not with hemorrhagic stroke. In this prospective study, stroke was three times more likely to occur among subjects with toxic equivalent in the highest tertile than with those in the lowest tertile.