Lipidomics of children and adolescents exposed to multiple industrial pollutants

Chi-Hsin S Chen; Tien-Chueh Kuo; Han-Chun Kuo; Yufeng J Tseng; Ching-Hua Kuo; Tzu-Hsuen Yuan; Chang-Chuan Chan

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.111448

Lipidomics of children and adolescents exposed to multiple industrial pollutants

Environ Res. 2021 Oct:201:111448. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111448. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Authors

Chi-Hsin S Chen¹, Tien-Chueh Kuo², Han-Chun Kuo³, Yufeng J Tseng⁴, Ching-Hua Kuo⁵, Tzu-Hsuen Yuan⁶, Chang-Chuan Chan⁷

Affiliations

¹ Master of Public Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University. No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan.
² The Metabolomics Core Laboratory, Center of Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
³ The Metabolomics Core Laboratory, Center of Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
⁴ Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan; Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
⁵ School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University. No. 33, Linsen S. Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Health and Welfare, College of City Management, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan. No.101, Sec. 2, Zhongcheng Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City, 11153, Taiwan.
⁷ Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University. No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan. Electronic address: ccchan@ntu.edu.tw.

PMID: 34119529
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111448

Abstract

Background: There are limited studies on the lipidomics of children and adolescents exposed to multiple industrial pollutants.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate lipid profile perturbations in 99 children and adolescents (aged 9-15) who lived in a polluted area surrounding the largest petrochemical complex in Taiwan. Previous studies have reported increased risks of acute and chronic diseases including liver dysfunctions and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in residents living in this area.

Methods: We measured urinary concentrations of 11 metals and metalloids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as exposure biomarkers, and urinary oxidative stress biomarkers and serum acylcarnitines as early health effect biomarkers. The association between individual exposure biomarkers and early health effect biomarkers were analyzed using linear regression, while association of combined exposure biomarkers with four oxidative stress biomarkers and acylcarnitines were analyzed using weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. Lipid profiles were analyzed using an untargeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based technique. "Meet-in-the-middle" approach was applied to identify potential lipid features that linked multiple industrial pollutants exposure with early health effects.

Results: We identified 15 potential lipid features that linked elevated multiple industrial pollutants exposure with three increased oxidative stress biomarkers and eight deregulated serum acylcarnitines, including one lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), four phosphatidylcholines (PCs), and two sphingomyelins (SMs) that were up-regulated in high exposure group compared to low exposure group, and two LPCs, four PCs, and two phosphatidylinositols (PIs) down-regulated in high exposure group compared to low exposure group.

Conclusion: Our findings could provide information for understanding the health effects, including early indicators and biological mechanism identification, of children and adolescents exposed to multiple industrial pollutants during critical stages of development.

Keywords: Children's health; Lipidomics; Multiple toxics exposure; Petrochemical industry.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Biomarkers
Child
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
Environmental Exposure / analysis
Environmental Pollutants* / toxicity
Humans
Industry
Lipidomics
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / toxicity

Substances

Biomarkers
Environmental Pollutants
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons