Photosensitivity and environmental exposure to chemicals such as polyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are linked to adverse dermatologic outcomes including skin malignancies. Few studies have examined the relationship between environmental chemicals and photosensitivity and it is unknown whether these chemicals play a synergistic role in enhancing photosensitivity.
Using the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we investigated correlations between ubiquitous environmental chemicals and photosensitivity. The chemicals included phthalates, phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, glycidamide, and volatile organic compounds, measured as blood or urine concentrations. Photosensitivity was defined as “getting a severe sunburn with blisters after several months of not being in the sun”. The study population included adults (age ≥20 years) who had complete information on all covariates and had answered the dermatology questionnaire from survey years 2003-2014(n=15,329). We used survey weighted multiple logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios for photosensitivity, adjusting for age, race, gender, BMI, creatinine and cotinine level, vitamin D deficiency, season, poverty-income ratio, and survey year. Nine chemicals across every class except polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were associated with a significantly increased or decreased rate of photosensitivity. Trichloroethane, glycidamide, styrene, perfluorooctane sulfonamide, and mono-cyclohexyl phthalate (MCP) were associated with an increased risk of photosensitivity (p<.05). MCP had the highest associated risk (aOR 2.21), and in its parent form, dicyclohexyl phthalate, can be found in many consumer products, medical devices, and plastics. It has also been linked to lower sperm motility. Meanwhile, lead, cadmium, benzophenone-3 and mono(carboxyoctyl) phthalate were associated with a decreased risk of photosensitivity(p<.05). Increased photosensitivity seen with exposure to common environmental chemicals underscores the importance of photoprotection in these individuals. Additional research on the health effects of these compounds and their synergistic role with solar irradiation is also critical.

ESDRLB016 - Photosensitivity Increases with Exposure to Common Environmental Chemicals: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2014

50th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research. VIRTUAL MEETING