Examining Reproductive Health Outcomes in Females Exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Polybrominated Biphenyl

Abstract

In 1973, accidental contamination of Michigan livestock with polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) led to the establishment of a registry of exposed individuals that have been followed for > 40 years. Besides being exposed to PBBs, this cohort has also been exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a structurally similar class of environmental pollutants, at levels similar to average US exposure. In this study, we examined the association between current serum PCB and PBB levels and various female reproductive health outcomes to build upon previous work and inconsistencies. participation in this cross-sectional study required a blood draw and completion of a detailed health questionnaire. Analysis included only female participants who had participated between 2012 and 2015 (N = 254). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to identify associations between serum PCB and PBB levels with each gynecological and infertility outcome. Additionally, a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to evaluate each pregnancy and birth outcome in order to account for multiple pregnancies per woman. We controlled for age, body mass index, and total lipid levels in all analyses. A p-value of <0.05 was used for statistical significance. Among the women who reported ever being pregnant, there was a significant negative association with higher total PCB levels associating with fewer lifetime pregnancies (β = −0.11, 95% CI = −0.21 to −0.005, p = 0.04). There were no correlations between serum PCB levels and the self-reported gynecological outcomes (pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or uterine fibroids). No associations were identified between serum PCB levels and the prevalence of female infertility in women reporting ever having sexual intercourse with a male partner. There were no associations identified between serum PCB levels and pregnancy outcomes (singleton live births or miscarriages) or birth outcomes (preterm birth, birth weight, birth defects, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, or gestational diabetes). PBB was not associated with any outcome. Further research is needed to determine if and how PCB may reduce pregnancy number. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are synthetic chemicals that were once used as coolants in electrical equipment and as flame retardants in the manufacturing of plastics and electronics, respectively 1,2. Although the production of PCBs ceased in 1977 and PBBs in 1976, concern over their health effects remains because of their continued persistence in the environment, the pervasiveness of their exposure in

Maternal exposure to airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and risk of adverse birth outcomes

“…Evidence on HC-PCB and birth outcomes is conflicting, which may be due to the numerous differences across the previous studies, e.g. study design, population characteristics, measure of and differences in level of exposure [ 4 , 6 – 9 , 39 , 44 – 48 ]. Currently, the risk assessment of airborne PCB exposure is based on the knowledge obtained on HC-PCBs.…”

“…Since their ban, much attention has been paid to the accumulation of higher chlorinated PCBs (HC-PCBs) in the food chain, which is thought to constitute the most important source of human exposure. Studies have demonstrated conflicting yet concerning results in regards to health effects of these PCBs [4][5][6][7][8][9]. It was however recently discovered that residents of PCB contaminated apartments have considerably higher blood levels of lower chlorinated PCBs (LC-PCBs) compared to residents of uncontaminated apartments [10,11], and as much as 63% of the total PCB body burden in exposed adults and 36% in exposed toddlers may be from inhaled LC-PCBs [12].…”

Maternal Exposure to Airborne Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes

“…Evidence on HC-PCB and birth outcomes is con icting, which may be due to the numerous differences across the previous studies, e.g. study design, population characteristics, measure of and differences in level of exposure [4,6,54,[7][8][9]45,[50][51][52][53]. Currently, the risk assessment of airborne PCB exposure is based on the knowledge obtained on HC-PCBs.…”

“…Since their ban, much attention has been paid to the accumulation of higher chlorinated PCBs (HC-PCBs) in the food chain, which is thought to constitute the most important source of human exposure. Studies have demonstrated con icting yet concerning results in regards to health effects of these PCBs [4][5][6][7][8][9]. It was however recently discovered that a signi cant part of human exposure seems to come from airborne PCB congeners evaporating from contaminated indoor building materials [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

The Bladder Is a Novel Target of Developmental Polychlorinated Biphenyl Exposure Linked to Increased Inflammatory Cells in the Bladder of Young Mice

“…PCBs are implicated as risk factors for developing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), which often have comorbid symptoms of bladder dysfunction [ 8 ]. PCBs have also been linked to deleterious changes in other health outcomes such as reproductive and immune function [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Detectable levels of PCBs are present in serum and tissue samples from humans [ 9 , 19 ] and livestock [ 20 ], as well as commercial milk [ 20 , 21 ], air [ 22 , 23 ] and water [ 24 ].…”