Associations of Serum Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants with the Prevalence of Periodontal Disease and Subpopulations of White Blood Cells

Abstract

BackgroundPersistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are endocrine disruptors that accumulate in adipose tissue, can increase the risk of periodontal disease through the disturbance of the immune system.ObjectiveWe examined associations of background exposure to POPs with periodontal disease in the general population.DesignCross-sectional associations of concentrations of serum POPs with the prevalence of periodontal disease were investigated in 1,234 adults ≥ 20 years of age in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002.ResultsAmong several POPs, organochlorine (OC) pesticides were most strongly associated with periodontal disease. Adjusted odds ratios across quintiles of OC pesticides were 1.0, 1.3, 1.7, 2.4, and 2.7 (p for trend < 0.01) for the presence in any site of clinical attachment loss ≥ 4 mm and 1.0, 1.7, 2.6, 3.4, and 3.7 (p for trend < 0.01) for the presence of pocket depth ≥ 4 mm. Polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins also showed significant positive associations with one or both definitions of periodontal disease. Results did not materially change when continuous variables of clinical attachment loss or pocket depth were used as outcomes. Although participants with periodontal disease had higher white blood cell and neutrophil counts, neutrophil counts were inversely related to OC pesticides (p for trend < 0.01). These inverse associations did not change after excluding subjects with C-reactive protein ≥ 3 mg/L.ConclusionPOPs, especially OC pesticides, were positively associated with periodontal disease, possibly through immunomodulation due to OC pesticides.

Children’s white blood cell counts in relation to developmental exposures to methylmercury and persistent organic pollutants

“…A joint effect of higher exposures of DDT and PCBs on CD16 + NK cells was also observed in Japanese infants [22]. Finally, neutrophil counts were inversely related to OC pesticides concentrations in the general U.S. population form NHANES 1999-2002 [48]. Similar findings have also been reported in animal and in vitro studies [49-52].…”

Lipophilic chemical exposure as a cause of cardiovascular disease

“…POPs exposures have been associated with type 2 diabetes (Zeliger, 2013; Lee et al , 2010; Carpenter 2008); immunological disorders (Hertz-Picciotto et al , 2008; Noakes et al , 2006; Tryphonas, 1998), musculoskeletal disorders (Lee et al , 2007), reproductive interferences (EPA, 2008; Nishijo et al , 2008; Herz-Picciotto et al , 2008), endocrine disruption (Snyder & Mulder, 2001; Colborn et al , 1997), periodontal disease (Lee et al , 2008), neurological disease (Kodavanti, 2005; Patri et al , 2009; Gamble, 2000; White & Proctor, 1997; Burbacher, 1993), neurodevelopmental disorders (Grandjean & Landrigan, 2006; Polanska et al , 2012; Korrich & Sagiv, 2008; Yolton et al , 2011;) and neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (Parron et al , 2011; Loane et al , 2013; Chen et al , 2013; Steenland et al , 2012; Wang et al , 2011; Dardiotis et al , 2013; Caudle et al , 2012; Weisskopf et al , 2010; Moulton & Yang, 2012; Mayeux & Stern, 2012; Zaganas et al , 2013; Sienko et al , 1990; Vincenti et al , 2012). The onset of many different cancers has been associated with exposures to the chemicals described here.…”

Hematologic and serum biochemical reference intervals for free-ranging common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and variation in the distributions of clinicopathologic values related to geographic sampling site

“…For this purpose, inclusion of nonhealthy individuals is acceptable, and in fact, exclusion of such individuals would introduce bias into the results. [45][46][47] Persistent organochlorine pollutants have an immunomodulatory effect in many mammalian species, 48 and a recent study 49 revealed that such persistent organochlorine pollutants are inversely correlated with neutrophil counts in humans. 8,10 Some distributional differences were evident among geographic sites in the present study.…”