Cross-sectional Associations between Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Leukocyte Telomere Length among U.S. Adults in NHANES, 2001-2002.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may influence leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a biomarker associated with chronic disease. In vitro research suggests dioxins may bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and induce telomerase activity, which elongates LTL. However, few epidemiologic studies have investigated associations between POPs and LTL.

Objectives

We examined the association between 18 PCBs, 7 dioxins, and 9 furans and LTL among 1,330 U.S. adults from NHANES 2001-2002.

Methods

We created three summed POP metrics based on toxic equivalency factor (TEF), a potency measure including affinity for the AhR: a) non-dioxin-like PCBs (composed of 10 non-dioxin-like PCBs; no AhR a

SUBMITTER: Mitro SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4858394 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature