Dietary exposure to environmental phenols and phthalates in Korean adults: data analysis of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2018–2020

Abstract

Environmental phenols and phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are linked to dietary intake, highlighting the need to identify sources to prevent exposure-related diseases. This study investigates dietary patterns associated with urinary concentrations of environmental phenols and phthalate metabolites in Korean adults using data from 4201 adults in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 4 (2018–2020). Exploratory factor analysis identified three dietary patterns: Western-style, traditional Korean, and seafood-rich. We analyzed metabolites with a ≥80 % detection rate, specifically environmental phenols (BPA, BPF, BPS, TCS, MP, EP, BP) and phthalates (MEHHP, MEOHP, MnBP, MECPP, MBzP, MCPP, MEP, MMP). The Western-style or processed food diet showed a significant negative association with MP (β [95 % CI] = −0.14 [−0.24, −0.03]), but no positive association. The traditional Korean diet showed significant positive associations with TCS (β [95 % CI] = 0.09 [0.02, 0.15]), EP (β [95 % CI] = 0.08 [0.01, 0.16]), BP (β [95 % CI] = 0.09 [0.05, 0.12]), MEHHP (β [95 % CI] = 0.04 [0.003, 0.08]), MECPP (β [95 % CI] = 0.06 [0.02, 0.09]), and MMP (β [95 % CI] = 0.11 [0.06, 0.15]). In comparison, it had a significant negative association with BPS (β [95 % CI] = −0.15 [−0.22, −0.09]). The seafood-rich dietary pattern exhibited a significant negative association with BP (β [95 % CI] = −0.07 [−0.11, −0.03]). Certain dietary patterns, including those traditionally regarded as healthy, may be associated with exposure to environmental phenols and phthalates, highlighting the need for further research to understand dietary sources of exposure before drawing implications for public health guidance.