Individual PAH metabolite levels, except for 1-OH-NAP, increased
by 10-60% from age 5 to age 9–10 (Table 2, SG adjusted).
The concentrations of PAH metabolites, except for 1-OH-NAP, were
correlated between ages 5 and 9–10 years with Spearman correlation
ranging between 0.17 and 0.39 (Table 2). The prevalence of
cockroach sensitization significantly increased between age 5 (33/
188 [17.6%]) and 9 years (62/188 [33.0%]) (Table 3. McNemar test:
po0.001). Similar trends were observed for any specific or positive
total IgE (total IgEZ80 IU/mL) (Table 3). In models without
covariate adjustment, neither repeatedly high PAH metabolites
(High–High) nor other exposure groups (High–Low or Low–High)
were at significantly increased risk of cockroach sensitization at
age 9, when compared to the reference group (data not shown).
After controlling for covariates, the models revealed a statistically
significant increase in the risk of cockroach sensitization at
age 9 with the repeatedly High–High 3-OH-PHEN compared to the
reference group (Table 4 and Fig. 2. RR [95% CI]; 1.54 [1.06–2.23]).
However, there were no significant risk increases in the risk of
cockroach sensitization associated with the groups of either High–
Low or Low–High 3-OH-PHEN, compared to a reference group.
Similarly, compared to the Low–Low exposure group, High–High
1-OH-NAP and 1-OH-PYR increased risk of cockroach sensitization
at age 9 (Table 4 and Fig. 2 RR [95% CI]; 1.83 [1.06–3.17] for 1-OHNAP
and 1.59 [1.04–2.43] for 1-OH-PYR). Mouse sensitization also
increased from 9.6% at age 5–14% at age 9–10 years (McNemar
test: p¼0.146), but the risk of mouse sensitization was not associated
with PAH exposure variables in the analysis with and
without covariate adjustment (data not shown). Similarly, neither