Effects of Personal Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds on Liver Function

简介（由申请人提供）：摘要：挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）暴露在日常生活中很常见。准确评估挥发性有机化合物对公众健康构成的风险，既需要在全人群基础上量化这些接触，也需要评估与不同接触水平相关的潜在健康影响。我们所做的初步分析表明，在NHANES III的数据中，某些挥发性有机化合物的血液水平与肝功能异常之间存在关联。我们建议使用NHANES 1999-2000的数据，对个人接触挥发性有机化合物对肝功能的潜在影响进行彻底检查。我们将调查是否存在独立的影响，或者这种影响是否被饮酒和使用止痛药所改变。此外，我们将在对毒性相似的VOCs进行分组后，研究暴露于一组VOCs与肝功能生化标志物之间的关系。根据个人对10种挥发性有机化合物的监测数据，描述挥发性有机化合物的暴露状况。肝功能生化指标包括血清白蛋白、胆红素、丙氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、乳酸脱氢酶、碱性磷酸酶和3-谷氨酰转移酶的浓度。这些生物标志物的水平将通过不同的暴露水平进行比较。将使用多元线性回归和逻辑模型来检查是否存在线性关联或仅在相对较高的暴露水平下才发生的阈值效应。还将对子组执行分析。通过检查大量国家样本中肝功能敏感标志物与个体暴露监测数据的关系，本研究能够检测相对低暴露水平下VOCs的微妙/亚临床影响。评估挥发性有机化合物暴露与饮酒和用药之间可能存在的相互作用，可能有助于确定易感亚群。如果确定了背景VOC暴露对肝功能的影响，那么就可以通过调节来减少所涉及的暴露。如果证实无症状人群的肝酶升高与环境暴露于挥发性有机化合物有关，这一发现将对个人和公众健康都非常有用。我们建议使用NHANES 1999-2000的数据，对个人接触挥发性有机化合物对肝功能的潜在影响进行彻底的检查。通过检查肝功能敏感标志物与个体暴露监测数据的关系，本研究可能能够在相对低暴露水平下检测到VOCs的微妙影响。如果背景暴露对肝功能的影响被确定，那么就可以通过调节来减少所涉及的暴露。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Abstract: Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) occurs commonly in everyday life. Accurate assessment of the risk to public health posed by VOCs requires both the quantification of these exposures on a population-wide basis and the evaluation of potential health effects associated with varying exposure levels. Preliminary analyses that we have done show that in the NHANES III data an association exists between blood levels of selected VOCs and abnormal liver function tests. We propose to conduct a thorough examination of the potential effects of personal exposure to VOCs on liver function, using the data from NHANES 1999-2000. We will investigate whether there are independent effects or if the effects are modified by alcohol consumption and use of pain medications. In addition, we will examine the associations between exposure to a cluster of VOCs and biochemical markers of liver function after grouping toxicologically similar VOCs. VOC exposure status will be described according to the personal monitoring data for ten VOCs. Biochemical markers of liver function included serum concentrations of albumin, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and 3-glutamyl transferase. Levels of these biomarkers will be compared by different exposure levels. Multiple linear regression and logistic models will be used to examine whether there is a linear association or a threshold effect which occurs only at relatively high levels of exposure. The analyses will also be performed for subgroups. By examining the relationship of sensitive markers of liver function and individual exposure monitoring data in a large national sample, this proposed study is able to detect a subtle/subclinical effect of VOCs at relatively low exposure levels. The assessment of possible interactions of VOC exposure with alcohol consumption and medication use may help to identify susceptible subgroups. If the effect of background VOC exposure on liver function is identified, then regulation can be used to reduce the exposures implicated. If it is confirmed that liver-enzyme elevations in asymptomatic people are linked with environmental exposure to volatile organic compounds, the finding will be very useful to both individual and public health. Narrative We propose to conduct a thorough examination of the potential effects of personal exposure to VOCs on liver function, using the data from NHANES 1999-2000. By examining the relationship of sensitive markers of liver function and individual exposure monitoring data, this proposed study may be able to detect a subtle effect of VOCs at relatively low exposure levels. If the effect of background exposure on liver function is identified, then regulation can be used to reduce the exposures implicated.