The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The relationship between brominated flame retardants (BFRs) exposure and arthritis and its subtypes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between BFRs exposure and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in American adults. Me...

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Main Authors: Yuxuan Wang, Jiarui Liu, Zhongze Zhu, Nana Shen, Jingyi Wang, Xiaoying Qi, Hao Li, Futong Wu, Zhihao Zhang, Hongfei Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23494-6
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author Yuxuan Wang
Jiarui Liu
Zhongze Zhu
Nana Shen
Jingyi Wang
Xiaoying Qi
Hao Li
Futong Wu
Zhihao Zhang
Hongfei Xiang
author_facet Yuxuan Wang
Jiarui Liu
Zhongze Zhu
Nana Shen
Jingyi Wang
Xiaoying Qi
Hao Li
Futong Wu
Zhihao Zhang
Hongfei Xiang
author_sort Yuxuan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The relationship between brominated flame retardants (BFRs) exposure and arthritis and its subtypes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between BFRs exposure and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in American adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2016. Logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between BFRs and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and RA. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the modifying effects of gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). The overall association of BFR mixtures with arthritis and its subtypes were evaluated using quantile g-computation (QGC) analyses and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. Results A total of 5,717 participants without arthritis and 2,106 participants with arthritis were enrolled in the study. Of these, 801 were diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and 422 with RA. Logistic regression models indicated that PBB153 and seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were positively associated with arthritis. PBB153 was positively associated with osteoarthritis and RA. WQS and QGC analyses confirmed that BFR mixtures were positively associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis and RA. WQS regression indicated that PBB153 contributed the most on the overall effect on arthritis, osteoarthritis and RA (75.8%, 75.6% and 82.3%). Conclusion This study suggested that exposure to specific kinds of BFRs was positively associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis, and RA. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-ec975c3e985d41a3b50454993fcc3b9c2025-08-20T03:42:02ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111310.1186/s12889-025-23494-6The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional studyYuxuan Wang0Jiarui Liu1Zhongze Zhu2Nana Shen3Jingyi Wang4Xiaoying Qi5Hao Li6Futong Wu7Zhihao Zhang8Hongfei Xiang9Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityAbstract Background The relationship between brominated flame retardants (BFRs) exposure and arthritis and its subtypes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between BFRs exposure and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in American adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2016. Logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between BFRs and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and RA. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the modifying effects of gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). The overall association of BFR mixtures with arthritis and its subtypes were evaluated using quantile g-computation (QGC) analyses and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. Results A total of 5,717 participants without arthritis and 2,106 participants with arthritis were enrolled in the study. Of these, 801 were diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and 422 with RA. Logistic regression models indicated that PBB153 and seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were positively associated with arthritis. PBB153 was positively associated with osteoarthritis and RA. WQS and QGC analyses confirmed that BFR mixtures were positively associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis and RA. WQS regression indicated that PBB153 contributed the most on the overall effect on arthritis, osteoarthritis and RA (75.8%, 75.6% and 82.3%). Conclusion This study suggested that exposure to specific kinds of BFRs was positively associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis, and RA. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23494-6Brominated flame retardantsArthritisOsteoarthritisRheumatoid arthritisAutoimmune disease
spellingShingle Yuxuan Wang
Jiarui Liu
Zhongze Zhu
Nana Shen
Jingyi Wang
Xiaoying Qi
Hao Li
Futong Wu
Zhihao Zhang
Hongfei Xiang
The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
BMC Public Health
Brominated flame retardants
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune disease
title The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
title_full The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
title_short The association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
title_sort association between exposure to brominated flame retardants bfrs and arthritis osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis a cross sectional study
topic Brominated flame retardants
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune disease
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23494-6
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