Associations between polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) levels in adipose tissues and blood lipids in women of Shantou, China

Animal studies have indicated that exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) during development can permanently affect blood/liver lipid balance. However, no epidemiological study has assessed the relationship between PBDEs in adipose tissues and blood lipid metabolism. In this study, we explored the associations between PBDEs levels in female adipose tissues and lipid profiles. We recruited 150 female patients undergoing plastic surgery from hospital in Shantou, China, collected their characteristics, clinical information, and adipose tissue samples. Fourteen PBDE congeners in adipose tissues were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to explore the relationships between PBDEs and lipid profiles, while restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to evaluate the nonlinearity of mixtures. Median levels of ΣPBDEs and dominant congeners BDE-153, -209, and -183 in adipose tissues were 73.91, 26.12, 14.10 and 9.01 ng/g lipid, respectively. In the multiple linear model, BDE-153 and BDE-209 were negatively associated with triglycerides (TG), similarly for BDE-190 and total cholesterol (TC). While in the adjusted logistic models, BDE-138 was negatively associated with TC (OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.58, 0.99) and total lipids (TL) (OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.58, 0.99). Diastolic blood pressure was positively correlated with BDE-28 and BDE-71 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a non-linear relationship was observed in BDE-138 and blood lipid levels using a RCS model (Pnonlinearity<0.05). BKMR analysis indicated that with the cumulative levels across PBDEs increased, the health risks of hypertriglyceridemia gradually rebounded, and the health risks of hypercholesterolemia and high total lipid gradually rebounded and then declined, but without statistical significance. PBDEs pollution was still prevalent in Shantou city, and several PBDE congeners were significant risk factors for dyslipidemia and blood pressure alteration. There exist deleterious effects of PBDEs and blood lipids.