Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
Volume 30, Issue 45, Pages 101091-101098Publisher
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29418-4
Keywords
Ethylene oxide; Dyslexia; Biomonitoring; 2-hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid; School-aged children; Neurodevelopmental disorders
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This study found a significant association between urinary concentrations of HEMA, a metabolite of ethylene oxide, and dyslexia in children, suggesting a possible link between ethylene oxide and dyslexia risk.
Ethylene oxide is commonly used in industrial synthesis and medical disinfection. It is a known human carcinogen and has neurotoxicity. However, the association between ethylene oxide exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid (HEMA; metabolite of ethylene oxide) and dyslexia among school-aged children. A total of 355 dyslexic children and 390 controls from three cities in China were enrolled in this case-control study from November 2017 to December 2020. Urinary HEMA was detected in 100% of the urine samples, suggesting widespread exposure to ethylene oxide in the children. Notably, the children with dyslexia had higher concentrations of urinary HEMA compared to the controls (geometric mean: 2.92 vs. 2.47 ng/mL) (P = 0.004). In the multivariable-adjusted model, urinary concentrations of HEMA were significantly associated with dyslexia risk. The individuals within the highest HEMA concentration demonstrated a 1.97-fold increased odds of dyslexia compared to those within the lowest quartile (95% confidence interval: 1.20-3.23). Thus, these findings suggested the possible link between HEMA levels and the risk of dyslexia. Further studies are warranted to validate this finding and illustrate the underlying mechanism.
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