Organophosphate pesticide exposure and biomarkers of liver injury/liver function

Abstract

Background and aims: There is little epidemiological evidence linking the exposure of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) to liver function or liver injury in the general population. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2012 to investigate the relationship of urinary OPs with biomarkers of liver function/liver injury.

Methods: The exposures were the concentrations of urinary OP metabolites (dimethyl phosphate [DMP], dimethyl thiophosphate [DMTP], diethyl phosphate [DEP] and diethyl thiophosphate [DETP]). The health outcomes were biomarkers of liver function/liver injury. The multivariable linear regression model, restricted cubic splines (RCSs) analysis and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were used to evaluate the relationship between individual or overall exposure of OPs and outcomes.

Results: Regressions of RCSs suggested linear and positive associations of OP metabolites with aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio (DMP and DEP) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index (DMP, DEP and DMTP) (all p-non-linear values >.05). However, L-shaped relationships were found between OP metabolites (DMTP and DETP) and blood albumin and total protein (TP) concentrations (both p and non-linear values <.05). The positive associations of urinary DMP, DEP and DMTP with AST/ALT ratio, and with FIB-4 score were more pronounced among non-smokers than smokers, among alcohol drinkers than non-drinkers and among those with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 than participants with a BMI of <25. However, most of the interaction p values were more than .05, indicating no significant interactions between covariates and OPs on outcomes mainly including AST/ALT, FIB-4, ALB and TP levels. Finally, the WQS indices were positively associated with AST/ALT ratio (p = .014) and FIB-4 score (p = .002).

Conclusions: Our study added novel evidence that exposures to OPs might be adversely associated with the biomarkers of liver function/liver injury. These findings indicated the potential toxic effect of OP exposures on the human liver.

Keywords: NHANES; liver function; liver injury; organophosphate pesticide.