Numerous studies have been conducted to determine how exposure to various amounts of VOCs might affect an individual’s health, as well as how VOC analysis can serve as a reliable predictor of several different cancer subtypes. In this cross-sectional study, we intend to investigate the VOCs present in adult urine, a liquid state of matter, and how various demographics are more likely to experience metabolic changes in the body linked to various types of cancers. We also intend to investigate how specific VOC concentrations in an individual’s urine can signal the onset of early-stage cancer. Secondary data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of 2017–2018 were gathered for this investigation. This survey research program organizes a cross-sectional investigation done by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and, to a lesser extent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Washington, D.C., where they oversee a process of interviewing non-institutionalized children and adults in the country using questionnaires and physical exams. A relationship between exposure status and outcome status can be established through these several measures. This study found a correlation between volatile Age, smoking status, ethnicity/race, and environmental factors were the only confounding variables that had demonstrated a significant link between the amount of VOC exposure and early onset cancer diagnosis, according to the results. No significant correlation between the outcome factors and early cancer diagnosis for VOC1(N-Acetyl-S-(n-propyl)-L-cysteine (ng/mL), VOC2(N-Acetyl- S- (4- hydroxy- 2- methyl- 2- butenyl)- L- cysteine (ng/mL); Henceforth, further study on the analysis of VOC patterns in urine, as well as a thorough understanding of VOC emission characteristics, must be done. The fact that this study directly ties to my intended career in the field of human disease epidemiology makes me happy that I conducted it. Epidemiology is based on the analysis of how a public health issue spreads across the population, and I believe that the topic of VOC exposure is relevant to more long-term health implications than only cancer diagnosis.
Author: Nobia Hailu, Public Health and Premedical Studies Major
Advisor(s): Saruna Ghimire, Department of Sociology and Gerontology
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