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Early-Life Exposure to Organic Chemical Pollutants as Assessed in Primary Teeth and Cardiometabolic Risk in Mexican American Children: A Pilot Study

Author

Listed:
  • Vidya S. Farook

    (Division of Human Genetics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA
    Deceased.
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Feroz Akhtar

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Rector Arya

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA)

  • Alice Yau

    (Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78238, USA)

  • Srinivas Mummidi

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA)

  • Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga

    (Division of Population Health and Biostatistics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen, TX 78550, USA)

  • Alvaro Diaz-Badillo

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA)

  • Roy Resendez

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA)

  • Sharon P. Fowler

    (Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA)

  • Hemant Kulkarni

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA)

  • Vijay Golla

    (School of Public Health-San Antonio Campus, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Mahua Choudhury

    (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Jane L. Lynch

    (Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA)

  • Donna M. Lehman

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA)

  • Daniel E. Hale

    (Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA)

  • Ralph A. DeFronzo

    (Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA)

  • John Blangero

    (Division of Human Genetics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA)

  • David E. Camann

    (Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78238, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ravindranath Duggirala

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Suman N. Challa

    (Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Early-life exposure to organic chemicals (OCs) may influence childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk. These conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect minority populations such as Mexican Americans (MAs). However, information on the impact of organic chemicals on cardiometabolic risk in MA children is limited. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess the extent to which exposure to organic chemicals influences cardiometabolic traits (CMTs) in MA children. We recalled 25 children from a previous study and collected 25 primary teeth from them. Chemical analyses of the teeth were performed using established protocols. Target analytes included acetaminophen (APAP); 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol (IMPy), diethyl phosphate (DEP), N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP). The organic chemicals most frequently detected in the teeth were APAP; the insect repellent DEET; plasticizers MnBP and MiBP; and the plasticizer-derived metabolite MEHP. These five analytes were included in association analyses with selected CMTs. After adjusting for covariate (age, sex, tooth-type) effects, we found significant ( p < 0.05) positive correlations between MiBP and the following CMTs: fat mass, fasting insulin, and the homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Both MnBP and MEHP exhibited negative correlation with blood pressure measures and triglycerides, respectively. In addition, APAP showed a strong negative correlation with HDL-C ( p = 0.009) and positive association with triglycerides ( p < 0.10). These findings suggest a potential role for early-life exposures to organic chemicals in influencing cardiometabolic risk in MA children.

Suggested Citation

  • Vidya S. Farook & Feroz Akhtar & Rector Arya & Alice Yau & Srinivas Mummidi & Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga & Alvaro Diaz-Badillo & Roy Resendez & Sharon P. Fowler & Hemant Kulkarni & Vijay Golla & Mahua Ch, 2025. "Early-Life Exposure to Organic Chemical Pollutants as Assessed in Primary Teeth and Cardiometabolic Risk in Mexican American Children: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(10), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:10:p:1494-:d:1759768
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    References listed on IDEAS

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