Hyperuricemia After Exposure to Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans Near a Highly Contaminated Area

Background: Hyperuricemia (too much uric acid in the blood) is the predisposing condition for gout and is associated with hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) cause renal toxicity and elevate uric acid. The aim of this analysis was to investigate and clarify the effect of moderate-to-high PCDD/F exposure on hyperuricemia risk. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 1531 healthy participants living near a deserted pentachlorophenol factory. We measured serum levels of 17 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs, and then examined associations between the main predictor variable, serum TEQ(DF-2005) (total PCDD/Fs 2005 World Health Organization [WHO] toxic equivalency [TEQ]), and dependent variables such as uric acid, glomerular filtration rates, and hyperuricemia risk. Results: We observed a strong monotonic inverse relationship between serum TEQ(DF-2005) quartiles and the estimated glomerular filtration rate after adjusting for confounding factors (Men: were 0, -4.7, -6.2, and -14.8; Women: were 0, -6.7, -12.9, and -21.5). In addition, we observed a suggestive positive trend between serum TEQ(DF-2005) quartiles and uric acid only in men after adjusting for confounding factors (Men: were 0, 0.40, 0.36, and 0.59; P-for trend <0.05). Men with serum TEQ(DF-2005) higher than the reference group's (<7.4 pg WHO2005-TEQ(DF)/g lipid) had a higher hyperuricemia risk after adjusting for confounding factors (25th to <50th percentile, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.20 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 1.30-3.73]; 50th to <75th percentile, AOR = 1.86 [95% CI = 1.08-3.22]; 75th percentile, AOR = 3.00 [95% CI = 1.69-5.31]). Conclusions: We conclude that serum TEQ(DF-2005) is an important determinant of serum uric acid levels and heightens the risk of hyperuricemia in general populations.