PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure linked with low plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and reduced child height

Exposure to atmospheric fine particle matter (PM2.5) pollution and the absorbed pollutants is known to contribute to numerous adverse health effects in children including to growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate exposure levels of atmospheric PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an electronic waste (e-waste) polluted town, Guiyu, and to investigate the associations between PM2.5-PAH exposure, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and child growth. This study recruited 238 preschool children (3–6 years of age), from November to December 2017, of which 125 were from Guiyu (an e-waste area) and 113 were from Haojiang (a reference area). Levels of daily PM2.5 and PM2.5-bound ∑16 PAHs were assessed to calculate individual chronic daily intakes (CDIs). IGF-1 and IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) concentrations in child plasma were also measured. The associations and further mediation effects between exposure to PM2.5 and PM2.5-bound PAHs, child plasma IGF-1 concentration, and child height were explored by multiple linear regression models and mediation effect analysis. Elevated atmospheric PM2.5-bound ∑16 PAHs and PM2.5 levels were observed in Guiyu, and this led to more individual CDIs of the exposed children than the reference (all P