Association between perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances mixture exposure and hyperuricemia
FENG Yu1, PU Shao-wei1, CHEN Zhu-mei1, ZHU Jun-liang1, CAI Wei-jie1, LIU Hong-bo1,2
1. Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control & Prevention, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
Abstract:To evaluate the association and combined effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and mixtures on hyperuricemia (HUA) and identify key components, this study analyzed data from 2,564 subjects in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2016 using logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression. Higher levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), n-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (n-PFOA), and perfluoromethylheptane sulfonic acid isomers (Sm-PFOS) were positively associated with HUA when PFAS was exposed as a single source (P<0.05).When considered as mixture exposure, PFAS mixtures were positively associated with HUA overall, with a 39.6% increase in the risk of HUA for each quartile increase in PFAS mixtures (WQS index) (OR=1.396,95%CI: 1.180~1.651, P<0.001), and this association was only observed in the female population. n-PFOA and Sm-PFOS were identified as key components, while linear perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (n-PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) may be negatively associated with HUA in the mixture. Potential interactions between various PFAS were also observed. The research findings can provide the latest epidemiological evidence for the study of the association between PFAS exposure and the risk of hyperuricemia, offering a basis for screening key populations.
冯雨, 浦少威, 陈祝梅, 朱俊亮, 蔡伟杰, 刘红波. PFAS混合暴露与高尿酸血症关联性研究[J]. 中国环境科学, 2025, 45(1): 322-330.
FENG Yu, PU Shao-wei, CHEN Zhu-mei, ZHU Jun-liang, CAI Wei-jie, LIU Hong-bo. Association between perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances mixture exposure and hyperuricemia. CHINA ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCECE, 2025, 45(1): 322-330.
[1] Su H, Liu T, Li Y, et al. Serum uric acid and its change with the risk of type 2diabetes: A prospective study in China [J]. Prim Care Diabetes, 2021,15(6):1002-1006. [2] Kuwabara M, Kodama T, Ae R, et al. Update in uric acid, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases [J]. Hypertens Res, 2023,46(7):1714- 1726. [3] Zhong L, Liu S, Qiu X, et al. High prevalence of hyperuricemia and associated factors among zhuang adults: A cross-sectional study based on the ethnic minority population cohort in the Southwestern China [J]. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2022,19(23):16040. [4] Blake B E, Fenton S E. Early life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and latent health outcomes: A review including the placenta as a target tissue and possible driver of peri- and postnatal effects [J]. Toxicology, 2020,443:152565. [5] Tachachartvanich P, Singam E R A, Durkin K A, et al. In vitro characterization of the endocrine disrupting effects of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on the human androgen receptor [J]. J. Hazard Mater., 2022,429:128243. [6] Xing Y, Li Z, Wang J, et al. Associations between serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and thyroid hormones in Chinese adults: A nationally representative cross-sectional study [J]. Environ. Int, 2024, 184:108459. [7] Fenton S E, Ducatman A, Boobis A, et al. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance toxicity and human health review: Current state of knowledge and strategies for informing future research [J]. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 2021,40(3):606-630. [8] Geiger S D, Xiao J, Shankar A. Positive association between perfluoroalkyl chemicals and hyperuricemia in children [J]. Am. J. Epidemiol., 2013,177(11):1255-1262. [9] Gleason J A, Post G B, Fagliano J A. Associations of perfluorinated chemical serum concentrations and biomarkers of liver function and uric acid in the US population (NHANES), 2007~2010 [J]. Environ. Res., 2015,136:8-14. [10] Kataria A, Trachtman H, Malaga-Dieguez L, et al. Association between perfluoroalkyl acids and kidney function in a cross-sectional study of adolescents [J]. Environ. Health, 2015,14:89. [11] Feng Y, Fu M, Guan X, et al. Associations of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances with serum uric acid change and hyperuricemia among Chinese women: Results from a longitudinal study [J]. Chemosphere, 2022,308(Pt 3):136438. [12] Johnson C L, Paulose-Ram R, Ogden C L, et al. National health and nutrition examination survey: analytic guidelines, 1999~2010 [J]. Vital Health Stat. 2, 2013(161):1-24. [13] Dong X, Liu X, Zhang L, et al. Residential greenness associated with lower serum uric acid levels and hyperuricemia prevalence in a large Chinese rural population [J]. Science of the Total Environment, 2021, 770:145300. [14] Calafat A M, Wong L Y, Kuklenyik Z, et al. Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals in the U.S. population: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003~2004and comparisons with NHANES 1999-2000 [J]. Environ. Health Perspect, 2007,115(11): 1596-1602. [15] Wang J, Chen S, Zhao J, et al. Association between nutrient patterns and hyperuricemia: mediation analysis involving obesity indicators in the NHANES [J]. BMC Public Health, 2022,22(1):1981. [16] Qi D, Liu J, Wang C, et al. Sex-specific differences in the prevalence of and risk factors for hyperuricemia among a low-income population in China: a cross-sectional study [J]. Postgrad. Med., 2020,132(6): 559-567. [17] Chen C, Ye Y, Zhang Y, et al. Weight change across adulthood in relation to all cause and cause specific mortality: prospective cohort study [J]. Bmj, 2019,367:l5584. [18] Scinicariello F, Buser M C, Balluz L, et al. Perfluoroalkyl acids, hyperuricemia and gout in adults: Analyses of NHANES 2009~2014 [J]. Chemosphere, 2020,259:127446. [19] Calabrese E J, Baldwin L A. Hormesis: U-shaped dose responses and their centrality in toxicology [J]. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2001,22(6):285-291. [20] Liao Q, Tang P, Song Y, et al. Association of single and multiple prefluoroalkyl substances exposure with preterm birth: Results from a Chinese birth cohort study [J]. Chemosphere, 2022,307:135741. [21] Aimuzi R, Luo K, Huang R, et al. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluroalkyl substances and maternal thyroid hormones in early pregnancy [J]. Environmental Pollution, 2020,264:114557. [22] Wu Y, Cheng Z, Zhang W, et al. Association between per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A nested case-control study in northwest China [J]. Environ. Pollut., 2024, 350:123937. [23] Yang Z, Men K, Guo J, et al. Association between exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and uric acid in Chinese adults [J]. Chemosphere, 2023,312(Pt 1):137164. [24] Ojo A F, Peng C, Ng J C. Genotoxicity assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances mixtures in human liver cells (HepG2) [J]. Toxicology, 2022,482:153359. [25] Yu S, Feng W R, Liang Z M, et al. Perfluorooctane sulfonate alternatives and metabolic syndrome in adults: New evidence from the Isomers of C8Health Project in China [J]. Environ. Pollut., 2021, 283:117078. [26] Lopez-Espinosa M J, Mondal D, Armstrong B G, et al. Perfluoroalkyl substances, sex Hormones, and insulin-like growth factor-1at 6-9 years of age: A cross-sectional analysis within the C8 health project [J]. Environ. Health Perspect, 2016,124(8):1269-1275. [27] Schultz A A, Stanton N, Shelton B, et al. Biomonitoring of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) 2014~2016 and comparison with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) [J]. J. Expo. Sci. Environ. Epidemiol., 2023,33(5):766-777. [28] Wang T, Wang P, Meng J, et al. A review of sources, multimedia distribution and health risks of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in China [J]. Chemosphere, 2015,129:87-99. [29] Hyndman D, Liu S, Miner J N. Urate Handling in the Human Body [J]. Curr. Rheumatol. Rep., 2016,18(6):34. [30] Niu S, Cao Y, Chen R, et al. A State-of-the-science review of interactions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with renal transporters in health and disease: Implications for population variability in PFAS toxicokinetics [J]. Environ. Health Perspect, 2023, 131(7):76002. [31] Ren H, Vallanat B, Nelson D M, et al. Evidence for the involvement of xenobiotic-responsive nuclear receptors in transcriptional effects upon perfluoroalkyl acid exposure in diverse species [J]. Reprod. Toxicol., 2009,27(3/4):266-277. [32] Dewitt J C, Shnyra A, Badr M Z, et al. Immunotoxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate and the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha [J]. Crit. Rev. Toxicol., 2009,39(1):76-94. [33] Yao X, Zhong L. Genotoxic risk and oxidative DNA damage in HepG2cells exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid [J]. Mutat. Res., 2005, 587(1/2):38-44. [34] Panaretakis T, Shabalina I G, Grandér D, et al. Reactive oxygen species and mitochondria mediate the induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2cells by the rodent peroxisome proliferator and hepatocarcinogen, perfluorooctanoic acid [J]. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 2001,173(1):56-64. [35] Dhingra R, Winquist A, Darrow L A, et al. A study of reverse causation: Examining the associations of perfluorooctanoic acid serum levels with two outcomes [J]. Environ. Health Perspect, 2017,125(3): 416-421.