Internal exposure to pollutants and sex hormone levels in Flemish male adolescents in a cross-sectional study: associations and dose–response relationships
- 16 December 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
- Vol. 21 (1), 106-113
- https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2009.63
Abstract
Flanders is densely populated with much industry and intensive farming. Hormonal status of 14- to 15-year-old male adolescents was studied in relation to internal exposure to pollutants. A total of 887 participants were selected as a random sample of the adolescents residing in the study areas. Confounding factors and significant covariates were taken into account. Serum levels of testosterone, free testosterone and estradiol, and the aromatase index showed significant positive associations with serum levels of marker polychlorobiphenyls (sum of PCBs 138, 153, and 180) and of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and a negative association with urinary cadmium concentration. Serum levels of estradiol also showed a positive association with serum levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). A doubling of serum concentrations of marker PCBs and HCB and of urinary concentration of cadmium were, respectively, associated with an increase of 16.4% (PPP<0.001) in serum testosterone concentration. Similar findings were made after additional adjustment for concurrent exposures. Associations between biological effects and internal exposures were, in terms of the regression coefficient, often stronger at exposures below the median. Environmental exposures to pollutants resulting in “normal” levels of internal exposure were associated with quite substantial differences in hormone concentrations.Keywords
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- Xenohormone transactivities are inversely associated to serum POPs in InuitEnvironmental Health, 2008
- Indirect androgen doping by oestrogen blockade in sportsBritish Journal of Pharmacology, 2008
- The association of urinary cadmium with sex steroid hormone concentrations in a general population sample of US adult menBMC Public Health, 2008
- Non-monotonic dose–response relationship in steroid hormone receptor-mediated gene expressionJournal of Molecular Endocrinology, 2007
- Serum Hormones in Boys Prenatally Exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and DibenzofuransJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 2005
- Serum Dioxin Concentrations and Age at MenopauseEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2005
- The inhibitory effects of polychlorinated biphenyl Aroclor 1254 on Leydig cell LH receptors, steroidogenic enzymes and antioxidant enzymes in adult ratsReproductive Toxicology, 2004
- Organochlorines Affect the Major Androgenic Hormone, Testosterone, in Male Polar Bears ( Ursus Maritimus ) at SvalbardJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 2003
- Alterations in circulating ovarian steroids in hexachlorobenzene-exposed monkeysReproductive Toxicology, 1995
- Persistent DDT metabolite p,p'–DDE is a potent androgen receptor antagonistNature, 1995