Exposure to cooking fumes is associated with perturbations in nasal microbiota composition: A pilot study

Xin Er Frances Jin; Dorrain Yanwen Low; Lina Ang; Lu Lu; Xin Yin; Yue Qian Tan; Alex King Yin Lee; Wei Jie Seow

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116392

Exposure to cooking fumes is associated with perturbations in nasal microbiota composition: A pilot study

Environ Res. 2023 Oct 1:234:116392. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116392. Epub 2023 Jun 10.

Authors

Xin Er Frances Jin¹, Dorrain Yanwen Low², Lina Ang³, Lu Lu⁴, Xin Yin³, Yue Qian Tan³, Alex King Yin Lee⁵, Wei Jie Seow⁶

Affiliations

¹ Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore. Electronic address: frances@u.nus.edu.
² Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
³ Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.
⁴ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁵ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore. Electronic address: ephswj@nus.edu.sg.

PMID: 37302739
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116392

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the leading causes of overall mortality globally. Cooking emissions are a major source of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). However, studies on their potential perturbations on the nasal microbiota as well as their association with respiratory health are lacking. This pilot study aims to assess the environmental air quality among occupational cooks and its associations with nasal microbiota and respiratory symptoms. A total of 20 cooks (exposed) and 20 unexposed controls (mainly office workers), were recruited in Singapore from 2019 to 2021. Information on sociodemographic factors, cooking methods, and self-reported respiratory symptoms were collected using a questionnaire. Personal PM_2.5 concentrations and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using portable sensors and filter samplers. DNA was extracted from nasal swabs and sequenced using 16s sequencing. Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity were calculated, and between-group variation analysis of species was performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between exposure groups and self-reported respiratory symptoms. Higher daily mean PM_2.5 (P = 2 × 10^-7) and environmental ROS exposure (P = 3.25 × 10^-7) were observed in the exposed group. Alpha diversity of the nasal microbiota between the two groups was not significantly different. However, beta diversity was significantly different (unweighted UniFrac P = 1.11 × 10-5, weighted UniFrac P = 5.42 × 10^-6) between the two exposure groups. In addition, certain taxa of bacteria were slightly more abundant in the exposed group compared to unexposed controls. There were no significant associations between the exposure groups and self-reported respiratory symptoms. In summary, the exposed group had higher PM_2.5 and ROS exposure levels and altered nasal microbiotas as compared to unexposed controls, though further studies are required to replicate these findings in a larger population.

Keywords: Air quality; Cooking; Microbiota; Respiratory.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Air Pollution* / analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
Cooking
Environmental Exposure / analysis
Gases
Humans
Particulate Matter / analysis
Particulate Matter / toxicity
Pilot Projects
Reactive Oxygen Species / analysis

Substances

Reactive Oxygen Species
Particulate Matter
Gases
Air Pollutants