Environmental phenols are commonly found in consumer products such as packaged foods, shampoos, and plastic dishware, leading to regular exposure for humans. These phenols have been linked to cardiac toxicities, prompting an interdisciplinary study by four professors from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine to investigate their impact on the heart’s electrical properties. The study, published in the journal Environmental Health, focused on analyzing the cardiac electrical activity in humans exposed to phenols.
The research utilized data from the Fernald Community Cohort, a group of nearly 10,000 individuals living near a former U.S. Department of Energy uranium processing site in Cincinnati. The study excluded individuals exposed to uranium to ensure the findings were relevant to the general population. By examining urine samples and electrocardiograms collected on the same day, researchers were able to analyze the exposure to environmental phenols and identify any changes in EKG parameters associated with this exposure.
One of the key findings of the study was that higher exposure to certain environmental phenols was linked to altered cardiac electrical activity. In women, increased exposure to phenols such as BPA, BPF, and BPA+F was associated with a longer PR interval, indicating a delay in electrical signal transmission in the heart. On the other hand, men exposed to triclocarban (TCC) had longer QT intervals, suggesting a potential risk for heart rhythm dysfunction. The study highlighted the sex-specific impact of phenol exposure on cardiac electrical activity, with more pronounced effects seen in women with higher body mass indexes.
While the changes observed in the study were moderate and unlikely to cause significant heart disease in healthy individuals, they could exacerbate existing heart conditions or arrhythmias, particularly in older adults or those with other risk factors. The study emphasized the importance of further research into the impact of newer environmental chemicals on individuals predisposed to heart disease. The study team included experts from various fields, collaborating to investigate the potential effects of environmental phenol exposure on cardiac health.
This research was funded by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health and the University of Cincinnati Center for Environmental Genetics, demonstrating the importance of understanding the impact of environmental phenols on human health. The study provided valuable insights into the association between phenol exposure and altered cardiac electrical activity, highlighting the need for further investigations to assess the risk of heart disease in vulnerable populations. By studying the effects of environmental chemicals on individuals at risk of heart conditions, researchers aim to improve our understanding of cardiac health and possible interventions to mitigate adverse outcomes.