Hormonal profile changes induced by pesticide mixture exposure in female rats revealed by hair analysis

Association between Environmental Exposure to Multiclass Organic Pollutants and Sex Steroid Hormone Levels in Women of Reproductive Age

“…However, to the best of our knowledge, hair analysis has never been applied to explore the impact of pollutant exposure on hormone levels, apart from the two animal studies from our laboratory. 38,39 This noninvasive method is useful for the identification of changes in the activity of endocrine systems associated with pollutant exposure. Moreover, the present study adds to the growing evidence that hair analysis is a reliable tool to investigate exposure-associated adverse health effects in epidemiological studies.…”

“…It is believed that hair hormone concentrations can reflect the levels of free hormones in the blood, as hormones accumulate in hair mainly through the passive diffusion of free hormones from the blood in humans. , Moreover, sex steroid hormones in hair represent the average level over weeks to several months depending on the hair length used for analysis and thus can overcome the high variability in circulating hormones in blood due to menstrual cycle in addition to circadian and/or ultradian rhythms in women of reproductive age. However, to the best of our knowledge, hair analysis has never been applied to explore the impact of pollutant exposure on hormone levels, apart from the two animal studies from our laboratory. , This noninvasive method is useful for the identification of changes in the activity of endocrine systems associated with pollutant exposure. Moreover, the present study adds to the growing evidence that hair analysis is a reliable tool to investigate exposure-associated adverse health effects in epidemiological studies.…”

“…As a result, short-term variations in the exposure have a limited influence on concentrations detected in hair. Correspondingly, hair has been demonstrated to be a suitable matrix for the analysis of hormones and pollutants including PCBs, pesticides, and bisphenols. − For example, hair analysis has been used to examine the effect of a mixture of 19 pesticides from multiple chemical classes and of a mixture of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on hormone levels in female rats, reporting significant decreases in hair E2 concentration for pesticide exposure and in hair thyroid hormones concentrations for PAH exposure. , However, so far, no human studies have used hair analysis to assess the potential effects of pollutant exposure on hormone levels.…”

“…35−39 For example, hair analysis has been used to examine the effect of a mixture of 19 pesticides from multiple chemical classes and of a mixture of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on hormone levels in female rats, reporting significant decreases in hair E2 concentration for pesticide exposure and in hair thyroid hormones concentrations for PAH exposure. 38,39 However, so far, no human studies have used hair analysis to assess the potential effects of pollutant exposure on hormone levels.…”