Background Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) encompass hundreds of high production volume chemicals and have been reported to be associated with adverse respiratory outcomes such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, research on the combined toxic effects of exposure to various VOCs on COPD is lacking. We aimed to assess the effect of VOC metabolite mixture on COPD risk in a large population sample.Methods We assessed the effect of VOC metabolite mixture on COPD risk in 5997 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2020 (pre-pandemic) using multivariate logistic regression, Bayesian weighted quantile sum regression (BWQS), quantile-based g-Computation method (Qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). We explored whether these associations were mediated by white blood cell (WBC) count and total bilirubin.Results In the logistic regression model, we observed a significantly increased risk of COPD associated with 9 VOC metabolites. Conversely, N-acetyl-S-(benzyl)-L-cysteine (BMA) and N-acetyl-S-(n-propyl)-L-cysteine (BPMA) showed insignificant negative correlations with COPD risk. The overall mixture exposure demonstrated a significant positive relationship with COPD in both the BWQS model (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.58) and BKMR model, and with marginal significance in the Qgcomp model (adjusted OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.52). All three models indicated a significant effect of the VOC metabolite mixture on COPD in non-current smokers. WBC count mediated 7.1% of the VOC mixture associated-COPD in non-current smokers.Conclusions Our findings provide novel evidence suggesting that VOCs may have adverse associations with COPD in the general population, with N, N- Dimethylformamide and 1,3-Butadiene contributing most. These findings underscore the significance of understanding the potential health risks associated with VOC mixture and emphasize the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse effects on COPD risk.
[1]Tianjin Med Univ Gen Hosp, Dept Radiol, Tianjin 300052, Peoples R China.
[2]Tianjin Med Univ Gen Hosp, Dept Nucl Med, Tianjin 300052, Peoples R China.
[3]Tianjin Med Univ Gen Hosp, Dept Lung Canc Surg, Tianjin 300052, Peoples R China.
[4]Tianjin Med Univ Gen Hosp, Tianjin Lung Canc Inst, Dept Lung Canc Surg, Tianjin Key Lab Lung Canc Metastasis & Tumor Micro, Tianjin 300052, Peoples R China.
[5]China Japan Friendship Hosp, Ctr Resp Med, Dept Tobacco Control & Prevent Resp Dis, Beijing, Peoples R China.
[6]Chinese Acad Med Sci & Peking Union Med Coll, Canc Hosp, Natl Canc Ctr, Natl Clin Res Ctr Canc, Beijing 100021, Peoples R China.
[7]Sichuan Univ, West China Hosp, Sichuan Lung Canc Ctr, Sichuan Lung Canc Inst, Chengdu, Peoples R China.
[8]Chinese Acad Med Sci & Peking Union Med Coll, Ctr Global Hlth, Sch Populat Med & Publ Hlth, Beijing 100730, Peoples R China.
(8.0+极速模式)