Human Sex Hormone Disrupting Effects of New Flame Retardants and Their Interactions with Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, a Case Study in South China

Abstract

Even though sex hormone disrupting effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely understood, similar effects associated with new flame retardants (NFRs) have not been so well studied. This study aimed to explore the sex hormone disruption of NFRs and their interactions with PCBs and PBDEs through the conduct of an ecological study in an e-waste dismantling and control region in South China. Questionnaires and blood samples were collected from local adult residents. Results of generalized additive model and linear regression analyses indicate that several species of NFRs showed similar disrupting effects with PBDE congeners on female follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and male testosterone. Judged by the curved shape and statistical significance, ΣNFR (sum of 8 species of NFRs) showed stronger disrupting effects on male testosterone and female FSH compared to ΣPBDE (sum of 13 congeners of PBDEs). The interactions induced by NFRs complicated the original sex hormone disruption led by PCBs and PBDEs. The disrupting effects and interactions induced by NFRs decreased female FSH levels in the exposed group. Comprehensive evaluation is needed to provide the evidence base for judging the health risks arising from the increased usage of NFRs.

Disruption of thyroid hormone regulated proteins and gene expression by polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and new flame retardants in residents of an e-waste region

“…previous results, which indicated that the e-waste dismantling activities had greatly increased environmental exposure of local residents (Guo et al, 2018a). The levels of individual congeners are provided in Table S4.…”

“…The participants with no past history of critical illness were randomly selected from local residents of the two towns (n = 54 for the exposed group and n = 58 for the control group). Details of the sample chosen were presented in our previous study (Guo et al, 2018a).…”

“…The analysis of serum PCBs, PBDEs, NFRs, and serum lipids were described in our previous study (Guo et al, 2018a). Serum T 3 , T 4 , FT 3 , FT 4 , TSH, TG, and TBG were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay (Beckman Coulter, Inc., Brea, CA).…”

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Reproductive Health in Boys and Men

“…Giwercman et al found no association between PCB level and serum FSH and inhibin B levels in Sweden, Greenland, Poland, and Ukraine, suggesting no disturbance in the hypothalamic-pituitary-Sertoli cell axis (257). A study from China found either no significant association between serum PCB levels and reproductive hormone levels (254). Overall, evidence suggests a link between PCB exposure and disturbed hypothalamic-pituitarygonadal axis in men, particularly low serum testosterone level.…”

“…Several studies have evaluated associations between flame retardant levels in serum or hair and reproductive hormone levels in adult men. Two studies suggested a positive association with testosterone levels (254,256). One small study suggested a negative association with inhibin B levels (255).…”