title: Polychlorinated biphenyls, mercury, and antinuclear antibody positivity, NHANES 2003-2004.
abstract: Serum antinuclear antibody positivity (ANA) has been associated with elevated serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) among residents in PCB-polluted areas; however, associations in general populations have not been reported by congener type or with adjustment for mercury. Cross-sectional data on serum PCBs, total blood mercury, ANA, and potential confounders age, race, body mass index, menopausal status, and dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were obtained from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for males and females aged 12-85. PCB congeners were summed separately for dioxin-like and nondioxin-like PCBs; the former were weighted for toxic equivalent factors. Total PCBs by congener type and mercury were analyzed as both continuous log-transformed variables and as categorical quintiles. Logistic regression models were stratified by sex. There were no associations between nondioxin-like PCBs or mercury and ANA among males or females. Among females (n=114 affected and 518 unaffected), adjusting for potential confounders, the prevalence odds for ANA positivity were significantly elevated per incremental increase in log-transformed dioxin-like PCBs (odds ratio {OR}=1.66; 95% confidence interval {CI}=1.24, 2.23); the highest dioxin-like PCB quintile (>0.00425-0.04339ng/g) was significantly associated with 4.04 (95% CI=2.43, 6.70) greater prevalence odds for ANA positivity relative to the lowest quintile (Ptrend<0.001). We present novel findings of an association between low-level dioxin-like PCBs and ANA among women. No associations were observed between mercury and ANA at mercury levels common to the U.S. population.
authors: Graduate Program in Public Health, United States; Department of Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, United States; Stony Brook University Medical Center, United States; Stony Brook University, United States. Electronic address: 2crgallagher@optonline.net.
authors: Carolyn M
authors: CM
authors: Gallagher
authors: Anne E
authors: AE
authors: McElroy
authors: Dylan M
authors: DM
authors: Smith
authors: Marc G
authors: MG
authors: Golightly
authors: Jaymie R
authors: JR
authors: Meliker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Antinuclear antibody; Mercury; NHANES; PCB; Polychlorinated biphenyls