Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known carcinogens and may be obesogens. However, the analysis by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the relations relationship between of PAHs to and regional body fat and fat distribution by using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are not evaluatedhas not yet been evaluated in the literature.

Methods: We performed cross-sectional analysis of 926 individuals 8~19 years of age who participated in the 2003~2006 U.S National and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES). We performed multivariate linear regression to analyze the association of between urinary concentration of PAHs metabolites with and fat measurements using DXA.

Results: Sum DXA analysis showed that the sum of the urinary concentratio n of PAH metabolites were was positively associated with fat measurements using DXA including the android to gynoid ratio. Adjusted mean changes of android percent fat (%) and, gynoid percent fat (%) across quartiles of urinary PAHs were 0.00, 2.91, 2.12, 4.24 (P for trend < 0.001) and 0.00, 2.46, 2.27, 3.26 (P for trend < 0.001), respectively. Adjusted mean changes of android to gynoid ratio (%) across quartiles of urinay urinary PAHs were 0.00, 2.62, 0.51, 3.80 (P for trend=0.001).

Conclusion: The Eexposure to PAHs were was positively associated with fat measurements in American children and adolescents. This study provides additional evidences that PAHs might be obesogens and may be associated to with fat distribution. Prostpective Further studies are needed to confirm these relationships.