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- Exposure to Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes and Risk of Depression: A Cross-sectional Study of a National Sample of Korean Adults
- Hyun-Wook Park, Byung-Sun Choi, Bomi Park, Wanhyung Lee, Weon-Young Lee
- J Prev Med Public Health. 2026;59(1):95-104. Published online November 6, 2025
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.25.522
- 1,621 View
- 156 Download
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Abstract
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Supplementary Material - Objectives
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) are co-occurring neurotoxicants that are structurally similar aromatic hydrocarbons sharing common metabolic pathways and mechanisms of toxicity. This study investigated the effects of BTEX exposure on depression and aimed to identify the primary contributors to depression risk.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1733 adults from the 2020–2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. BTEX exposure was quantified based on urinary metabolite concentrations: S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) for benzene, benzylmercapturic acid for toluene, the sum of phenylglyoxylic acid and mandelic acid for ethylbenzene, and methylhippuric acid for xylenes. Depression was defined according to self-reported physician diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk associated with individual chemicals, while weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was employed to assess mixture effects and identify the primary toxicant. Sensitivity analyses were performed to address potential confounding by tobacco smoke.
Results
Urinary SPMA concentrations were significantly higher in individuals with depression. Logistic regression revealed a significant association between SPMA levels and depression (odds ratio, 2.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 5.13). Although the overall BTEX mixture was not significantly associated with depression after covariate adjustment in WQS models, SPMA consistently emerged as the major contributor. The association between SPMA and depression remained robust in sensitivity analyses excluding participants exposed to tobacco smoke.
Conclusions
Benzene exposure was associated with an increased risk of depression in the general Korean adult population. Therefore, strengthened environmental regulations on benzene could help reduce the public health burden of depression. -
SummaryKorean summary
본 연구는 2020–2021년 국민건강영양조사 자료를 활용하여 한국 성인에서 요중 벤젠, 톨루엔, 에틸벤젠, 자일렌 대사체 농도와 우울증 위험 간의 연관성을 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 벤젠의 대사체인 요중 S-phenyl-mercapturic acid는 우울증 위험 증가와 연관성을 보였다. 흡연 요인을 제외한 민감도 분석에서도 연관성은 일관되게 유지되어, 벤젠 노출 저감을 위한 환경적 관리 강화가 우울증 예방에 기여할 수 있음을 시사한다.Key Message
This study investigated the association between urinary metabolites of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene and depression risk among Korean adults, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2020–2021. The findings indicated a significant association between urinary S-phenyl-mercapturic acid, a metabolite of benzene, and an increased risk of depression. This association remained robust after excluding smoking factors, underscoring the potential benefits of improved environmental management in reducing benzene exposure to prevent depression.
- Physical Activity in Adolescence Has a Positive Effect on Bone Mineral Density in Young Men
- Jinhyun Kim, Moonki Jung, Yeon-pyo Hong, Jung-Duck Park, Byung-Sun Choi
- J Prev Med Public Health. 2013;46(2):89-95. Published online March 28, 2013
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2013.46.2.89
- 14,834 View
- 99 Download
- 6 Crossref
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Abstract
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Objectives Little is yet known about the determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) in young adults. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the factors that have an impact on BMD in young men.
Methods Questionnaires were sent out to 111 male medical students. Information on age, socio-economic status, medical history, lifestyle, physical activity during adolescence, school club participation, current physical activity, and dietary intake were collected by the survey. Height, weight, percent body fat and muscle mass were estimated by bioelectrical impedance, and BMD was obtained using calcaneal quantitative ultrasound. Using the Poisson regression model, prevalence ratios (PRs) were used to estimate the degree of association between risk factors and osteopenia.
Results The height and current physical activity showed a correlation to the Osteoporosis Index. Among the categorized variables, past physical activity during adolescence (
p =0.002) showed a positive effect on the bone mineral content. In the multivariate model, past physical activity (≥1 time/wk) had a protective effect on osteopenia (PR, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 0.75) and present physical activity (1000 metabolic equivalent of task-min/wk) decreased the risk of osteopenia (PR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.91).Conclusions Past physical activity during adolescence is as important as physical activity in the present for BMD in young men.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Effects of Adolescents’ Lifestyle Habits and Body Composition on Bone Mineral Density
Chang-Sook Han, Hyo-Kyung Kim, Suhee Kim
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(11): 6170. CrossRef - A Review of Knowledge, Belief and Practice Regarding Osteoporosis among Adolescents and Young Adults
Chin Yi Chan, Norazlina Mohamed, Soelaiman Ima-Nirwana, Kok-Yong Chin
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(8): 1727. CrossRef - Relationship between total and segmental bone mineral density and different domains of physical activity among children and adolescents: cross-sectional study
Tiego Aparecido Diniz, Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete, Paulo Costa Junior, Bruna Thamyres Ciccotti Saraiva, Diego Kanashiro Sonvenso, Ismael Forte Freitas Junior, Rômulo Araujo Fernandes, Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro
Sao Paulo Medical Journal.2017; 135(5): 444. CrossRef - Sports Practice and Bone Mass in Prepubertal Adolescents and Young Adults: A Cross-sectional Analysis
Alessandra Madia Mantovani, Manoel Carlos Spiguel Lima, Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete, Igor Hideki Ito, Jamile Sanches Codogno, Kyle Robinson Lynch, Rômulo Araújo Fernandes
Motriz: Revista de Educação Física.2016; 22(4): 335. CrossRef - Bone Mineral Density and Response to Treatment in Men Younger Than 50 Years with Testosterone Deficiency and Sexual Dysfunction or Infertility
Ravi Kacker, William Conners, John Zade, Abraham Morgentaler
Journal of Urology.2014; 191(4): 1072. CrossRef - Comparison of Musculoskeletal Characteristics and Bone Mineral Density Related Factors between Male and Female University Students
Seung-Hye Choi, Haeyoung Lee, MiJeong Park, Seungmi Park
Journal of muscle and joint health.2013; 20(3): 161. CrossRef
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