#AI reads Urine# Associations Between Indoor Air Pollution and Urinary Volatile Organic Compound Biomarkers in Korean Adults

This document is a cross-sectional study conducted on Korean adults. Based on data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2020 and 2021, it analyzed the associations between indoor air quality and urinary volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers among 1880 adults. Concentrations of indoor pollutants such as PM₂.₅, CO₂, formaldehyde, benzene, and ethylbenzene, as well as the levels of 9 urinary VOC metabolites, were measured, with consideration given to covariates including sociodemographic, behavioral, and environmental factors. The study found that adults who were older, female, of lower socioeconomic status, or smokers had higher concentrations of urinary VOC biomarkers, with smoking showing the strongest association. Those who used air purifiers had lower biomarker concentrations, while participants who had renovated their homes within the previous 6 months had higher levels of certain biomarkers. Indoor ethylbenzene, styrene, benzene, and CO₂ were associated with various metabolites (notably, higher CO₂ concentrations sometimes indirectly reduced VOC exposure due to better ventilation). Additionally, the study noted limitations, such as the inability to establish causality due to its cross-sectional design and the failure to fully capture long-term exposure. Ultimately, it emphasized the need for targeted indoor air quality interventions for vulnerable populations, providing a basis for the formulation of relevant policies and public health strategies.

Toxics 2025, 13(8), 692; doi.org/10.3390/toxics13080692

Youhe Gao

Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used Doubao / AI reading for summarizing the content. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.

For earlier AI Reads Urine articles：

https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/advances-in-biomarker-sciences-and-technology/ai-reads-urine/