Organochlorine compound levels in fertile and infertile women from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Environmental agencies have identified a growing number of environmental contaminants that have endocrine disrupting activity, and these can become a major public health problem. It is suggested that endocrine disruptors could account for the higher-than-expected increase in the prevalence of some non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, thyroid diseases, and some cancers. Several endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), such as pesticides, bisphenol A, phthalates, dioxins, and phytoestrogens, can interact with the female reproductive system and lead to endocrine disruption. Initially, it was assumed that EDCs exert their effects by binding to hormone receptors and transcription factors, but it is currently known that they may also alter the expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis or catabolism of steroids. Biomonitoring studies have identified these compounds in adults, children, pregnant women, and fetuses. Among the diseases of the female reproductive tract associated with EDCs exposure are the following: precocious puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premature ovarian failure. The different populations of the world are exposed to a great number of chemicals through different routes of infection; despite the various available studies, there is still much doubt regarding the additive effect of a mixture of EDCs with similar mechanisms of action.

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Section: Menstrual Irregularity and Fecundabilitysupporting

confidence: 84%

Effects of endocrine disruptors in the development of the female reproductive tract

Costa

Spritzer

Hohl

et al. 2014

Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab

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“…A recent Brazilian study quantified organochlorine compounds in infertile women and compared them to a control group of fertile women. Exposure to organochlorine compounds was most prevalent in infertile women, confirming the data from literature, indicating that these compounds may negatively affect female fertility (Bastos et al, 2013). Toft et al (2005) mentioned that persistent organochlorine pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls interfere with sperm motility and sperm DNA integrity at exposure levels that are encountered in populations with high body burdens related to marine diet and environmental contamination.…”

Section: Ddt and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pcbs)supporting

confidence: 71%

Occupational and Environmental Exposure Versus Reproductive Health

2014

Egypt. J. Occup. Med.

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Nowadays a special attention is focused on a variety of Occupational and Environmental exposures and their impact on male and female reproductive health. Such exposures may negatively affect the reproductive process causing reduced fertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes in the exposed population. This article aims at evaluating the impact of Occupational and Environmental exposures to several widespread toxicants on reproductive health by reviewing most recent published literature. The results from the presented studies suggest that there are strong and rather consistent indications that the reproductive system is particularly vulnerable to insult from exposure to widespread occupational and environmental agents. Considering the possible health effects, more epidemiologic data is needed.

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“…PCBs and dioxins can disturb female fertility [ 124 ] and embryo development [ 125 , 126 ]. Exposure in utero to these compounds delayed reproductive development especially in girls [ 127 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Usefulness of bovine and porcine IVM/IVF models for reproductive toxicology

Santos

Schoevers

Roelen

2014

Reprod Biol Endocrinol

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Women presenting fertility problems are often helped by Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. However, in many cases the etiology of the in/subfertility remains unknown even after treatment. Although several aspects should be considered when assisting a woman with problems to conceive, a survey on the patients’ exposure to contaminants would help to understand the cause of the fertility problem, as well as to follow the patient properly during IVF. Daily exposure to toxic compounds, mainly environmental and dietary ones, may result in reproductive impairment. For instance, because affects oocyte developmental competence. Many of these compounds, natural or synthetic, are endocrine disruptors or endocrine active substances that may impair reproduction. To understand the risks and the mechanism of action of such chemicals in human cells, the use of proper in vitro models is essential. The present review proposes the bovine and porcine models to evaluate toxic compounds on oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo production in vitro. Moreover, we discuss here the species-specific differences when mice, bovine and porcine are used as models for human.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1477-7827-12-117) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Organochlorine compound levels in fertile and infertile women from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Cited by 21 publications

References 22 publications

Effects of endocrine disruptors in the development of the female reproductive tract

Effects of endocrine disruptors in the development of the female reproductive tract

Occupational and Environmental Exposure Versus Reproductive Health

Usefulness of bovine and porcine IVM/IVF models for reproductive toxicology

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