To investigate the association between blood ethylene oxide exposure levels and sleep disorders.

Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018, this study selected adults aged 18 and older. The relationship between blood ethylene oxide exposure levels and sleep disorders was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, interaction analysis, and restricted cubic spline analysis.

A total of 2 579 participants were included, with a median blood ethylene oxide exposure concentration of 21.76 pmol/g Hb, and 753 (29.2%) individuals reported sleep disorders. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that compared to the lowest quartile, the risk of sleep disorders increased by 94% in the highest quartile of blood ethylene oxide exposure (OR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.27-2.95, P=0.012). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant association between ethylene oxide exposure and sleep disorders among women, individuals aged 40 to 59, those of other races, individuals with a poverty ratio of 1.3 to 3.5, those with an education level of high school or below or possessing a college degree, individuals engaging in moderate physical activity, and the unmarried population.Interaction analysis showed that these factors did not exhibit interaction effects on sleep. Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated no nonlinear association between ethylene oxide exposure levels and the occurrence of sleep disorders (P_non-linear=0.09).

There is a significant positive correlation between high blood ethylene oxide exposure levels and sleep disorders.