Joint association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and heavy metal exposures with sex steroid hormones in children and adolescents aged 6–19 years in NHANES 2013-2016

Sex hormone homeostasis is crucial for the proper development of children and adolescents. Previous studies have indicated that exposure to heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is linked to disruptions in sex hormone levels in this age group. However, there is limited research on the harm caused by exposure to chemical mixtures. Our study analyzed data from 1059 participants aged 6–19 years who participated in the 2013–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the association between 15 heavy metals, 8 PAH metabolites, and sex hormone levels in children and adolescents. We used various statistical models, such as generalized linear regression models, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models, and Bayesian kernel regression (BKMR) models, to analyze the single effects of chemicals and the combined effects of chemical mixtures. We discovered that exposure to a mixture of heavy metals and PAHs was linked to a decrease in testosterone (TT) and estradiol (E2) levels, as well as an increase in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. We identified Cesium (Cs), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), lead (Pb), and metabolites of naphthalene and phenanthrene as significant contributors to these associations. This association was more significant in adolescents. Our results suggest that exposure to a mixture of heavy metals and PAHs can disrupt sex hormone levels in children and adolescents.