Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms

Background: The rising prevalence of depressive disorders has sparked concerns regarding environmental risk factors, particularly exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, the link between EDC exposure and depressive symptoms remains largely unexplored. Methods: The Chang Gung Comm...

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Main Authors: Yun-An Liu, Heng-Jung Hsu, Heng-Chih Pan, Chiao-Yin Sun, Yih-Ting Chen, Chin-Chan Lee, Feng-Chieh Su, Yi-Chia Wei, Cheng-Kai Hsu, Chun-Yu Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Research in Toxicology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666027X25000118
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author Yun-An Liu
Heng-Jung Hsu
Heng-Chih Pan
Chiao-Yin Sun
Yih-Ting Chen
Chin-Chan Lee
Feng-Chieh Su
Yi-Chia Wei
Cheng-Kai Hsu
Chun-Yu Chen
author_facet Yun-An Liu
Heng-Jung Hsu
Heng-Chih Pan
Chiao-Yin Sun
Yih-Ting Chen
Chin-Chan Lee
Feng-Chieh Su
Yi-Chia Wei
Cheng-Kai Hsu
Chun-Yu Chen
author_sort Yun-An Liu
collection DOAJ
description Background: The rising prevalence of depressive disorders has sparked concerns regarding environmental risk factors, particularly exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, the link between EDC exposure and depressive symptoms remains largely unexplored. Methods: The Chang Gung Community Medicine Research Center carried out a cross-sectional study across four regions in northeastern Taiwan. Out of 887 participants, 120 subjects were chosen according to their EDC exposure scores. These participants underwent urinary EDC analysis and were evaluated for depressive symptoms through the standardized Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale − Depression subscale (HADS-D) questionnaire. Results: Participants with HADS-D scores ≥ 8 exhibited significantly higher EDC exposure score compared to those with lower scores. The correlation analyses identified a notible positive association between urinary monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) levels and HADS-D scores (r = 0.244, p = 0.007). Multiple regression analysis revealed that MBzP was independently linked to increased HADS-D scores in a positive manner (β ± SE: 0.139 ± 0.050, p = 0.006). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that higher MBzP (OR: 1.150, 95 % CI: 1.036–1.278, p = 0.009) and methylparaben (MP) levels (OR: 1.008, 95 % CI: 1.003–1.013, p < 0.001) showed a significant correlation with the likelihood of HADS-D scores ≥ 8. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that elevated levels of MBzP, MP and the EDCs exposure score were associated with a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Exposure to EDCs, particularly MBzP and MP, could be associated with a heightened risk of depressive symptoms.
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spelling doaj-art-5971bab8516b4ffca7edaa0da0dcee902025-08-20T02:32:33ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Toxicology2666-027X2025-01-01810022510.1016/j.crtox.2025.100225Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptomsYun-An Liu0Heng-Jung Hsu1Heng-Chih Pan2Chiao-Yin Sun3Yih-Ting Chen4Chin-Chan Lee5Feng-Chieh Su6Yi-Chia Wei7Cheng-Kai Hsu8Chun-Yu Chen9Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaCollege of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, No. 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaCommunity Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, No. 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan, Republic of China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, No. 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China; Corresponding author at: Divisions of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch 222, Mai-Chin Road, Keelung 20401, Taiwan, Republic of China.Background: The rising prevalence of depressive disorders has sparked concerns regarding environmental risk factors, particularly exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, the link between EDC exposure and depressive symptoms remains largely unexplored. Methods: The Chang Gung Community Medicine Research Center carried out a cross-sectional study across four regions in northeastern Taiwan. Out of 887 participants, 120 subjects were chosen according to their EDC exposure scores. These participants underwent urinary EDC analysis and were evaluated for depressive symptoms through the standardized Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale − Depression subscale (HADS-D) questionnaire. Results: Participants with HADS-D scores ≥ 8 exhibited significantly higher EDC exposure score compared to those with lower scores. The correlation analyses identified a notible positive association between urinary monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) levels and HADS-D scores (r = 0.244, p = 0.007). Multiple regression analysis revealed that MBzP was independently linked to increased HADS-D scores in a positive manner (β ± SE: 0.139 ± 0.050, p = 0.006). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that higher MBzP (OR: 1.150, 95 % CI: 1.036–1.278, p = 0.009) and methylparaben (MP) levels (OR: 1.008, 95 % CI: 1.003–1.013, p < 0.001) showed a significant correlation with the likelihood of HADS-D scores ≥ 8. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that elevated levels of MBzP, MP and the EDCs exposure score were associated with a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Exposure to EDCs, particularly MBzP and MP, could be associated with a heightened risk of depressive symptoms.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666027X25000118Endocrine-disrupting chemicalsDepressive symptomsParabenPhthalateCommunity medicineEnvironmental hormone
spellingShingle Yun-An Liu
Heng-Jung Hsu
Heng-Chih Pan
Chiao-Yin Sun
Yih-Ting Chen
Chin-Chan Lee
Feng-Chieh Su
Yi-Chia Wei
Cheng-Kai Hsu
Chun-Yu Chen
Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms
Current Research in Toxicology
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Depressive symptoms
Paraben
Phthalate
Community medicine
Environmental hormone
title Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms
title_full Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms
title_fullStr Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms
title_full_unstemmed Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms
title_short Community-based insights into the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms
title_sort community based insights into the connection between endocrine disrupting chemicals and depressive symptoms
topic Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Depressive symptoms
Paraben
Phthalate
Community medicine
Environmental hormone
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666027X25000118
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