Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants that may contribute to the etiology of obesity. However, it is unclear whether PAHs from environmental sources are associated with regional body fat distribution, and whether the association varies across racial/ethnic groups who may have differential PAH exposure patterns. To examine correlations between PAHs and body fat distribution, and potential racial/ethnic differences among U.S. adults. Ten PAHs were measured in spot urine samples from 2691 non-smoking adults (age ≥ 20 years) in the NHANES 2001–2016. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure fat mass percent (FM%). Partial Pearson correlation coefficients (r) with multivariable adjustment were used to assess PAH-FM% associations. In the total population, 1-naphthalene, 3-fluorene, and 1-pyrene were inversely correlated with total FM% or trunk FM% (adjusted r ranged: − 0.06 to − 0.08), while 2-naphthalene, 9-fluorene, and 4-phenanthrene were positively correlated with the FM% measurements (r: 0.07–0.11). PAH levels are highest among non-Hispanic Blacks, followed by Hispanics and Whites and some of the correlations were different by these races/ethnicities. Among non-Hispanic Whites, no PAH was correlated with FM%. In contrast, 9-fluorene was positively correlated with total FM% (r = 0.20) and trunk FM% (r = 0.22) among Blacks, and 4-phenanthrene was positively correlated with total FM% (r = 0.23) and trunk FM% (r = 0.24) among Hispanics (P-interaction: 0.010–0.025). In this US adult population, certain PAHs are significantly associated with higher body fat contents among non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics but not non-Hispanic Whites, suggesting that minority groups might be particularly susceptible to PAH’s obesogenic effects or the effects of other factors that determine the PAH exposure levels. Alternatively, differences in body composition may contribute to differential PAH metabolism in minority groups. Future studies are warranted to explore the racial/ethnic disparity in PAH exposures, drivers of these exposure differences, and mechanisms through which PAHs may influence body composition by races/ethnicities.

中文翻译：

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尿液多环芳烃排泄和局部体脂分布：来自 2001-2016 年美国国家健康和营养检查调查的证据

多环芳烃 (PAH) 是环境污染物，可能导致肥胖的病因。然而，尚不清楚环境来源的多环芳烃是否与区域体脂分布相关，以及这种关联是否因可能具有不同多环芳烃暴露模式的种族/族裔群体而异。研究多环芳烃与体脂分布之间的相关性，以及美国成年人之间潜在的种族/族裔差异。在 NHANES 2001–2016 中，从 2691 名非吸烟成年人（年龄≥ 20 岁）的尿液样本中测量了 10 种多环芳烃。双能 X 射线吸收测定法用于测量脂肪质量百分比 (FM%)。使用多变量调整的偏 Pearson 相关系数 (r) 来评估 PAH-FM% 关联。在总人口中，1-萘、3-芴、和 1-芘与总 FM% 或躯干 FM% 呈负相关（调整后的 r 范围：− 0.06 至 − 0.08），而 2-萘、9-芴和 4-菲与 FM% 测量值呈正相关（r ：0.07–0.11）。PAH 水平在非西班牙裔黑人中最高，其次是西班牙裔和白人，并且一些相关性因这些种族/族裔而异。在非西班牙裔白人中，没有 PAH 与 FM% 相关。相反，在黑人中，9-芴与总 FM% (r = 0.20) 和躯干 FM% (r = 0.22) 呈正相关，4-菲与总 FM% (r = 0.23) 和躯干 FM% 呈正相关(r = 0.24) 在西班牙裔中（P-交互作用：0.010–0.025）。在这个美国成年人群中，某些 PAH 与非西班牙裔黑人和西班牙裔的较高体脂含量显着相关，但与非西班牙裔白人无关，这表明少数群体可能特别容易受到 PAH 的致肥胖作用或决定 PAH 暴露水平的其他因素的影响。或者，身体成分的差异可能导致少数群体的 PAH 代谢差异。未来的研究有必要探讨 PAH 暴露的种族/民族差异、这些暴露差异的驱动因素，以及 PAH 可能影响不同种族/民族身体成分的机制。身体成分的差异可能导致少数群体的 PAH 代谢差异。未来的研究有必要探讨 PAH 暴露的种族/民族差异、这些暴露差异的驱动因素，以及 PAH 可能影响不同种族/民族身体成分的机制。身体成分的差异可能导致少数群体的 PAH 代谢差异。未来的研究有必要探讨 PAH 暴露的种族/民族差异、这些暴露差异的驱动因素，以及 PAH 可能影响种族/民族身体成分的机制。