In utero and childhood DDT, DDE, PBDE and PCBs exposure and sex hormones in adolescent boys: The CHAMACOS study

Abstract

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are believed to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in humans and animals. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of in utero and childhood exposure to these purported EDCs and reproductive hormones in adolescent boys who participated in CHAMACOS, an ongoing birth cohort in California’s Salinas Valley. We measured o,p′- and p,p′-DDT, p,p′- DDE, PBDEs and PCBs in serum collected from mothers during pregnancy or at delivery and from their sons at 9 years. We measured concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and total testosterone (T) from 234 of their sons at 12 years. In adjusted models, we found that a 10-fold increase in maternal prenatal serum concentrations of BDE-153 was associated with a 22.2% increase (95% CI: 1.0, 47.9) in FSH, a 96.6% increase (95% CI: 35.7, 184.7) in LH, and a 92.4% increase (95% CI: 20.9, 206.2) increase in T. Similarly, BDE-100 concentrations were associated with increases in boys’ LH levels. A 10-fold increase in total prenatal ΣPCBs was associated with a 64.5% increase (95% CI: 8.6, 149.0) in FSH, primarily driven by non-dioxin-like congeners. Boys’ hormone levels were only marginally associated with prenatal DDT or DDE in primary models, but when boys’ Tanner stage at age 12 was added to models, prenatal maternal DDT levels were associated with decreases in LH (adjusted percent change per 10-fold increase = −18.5%, 95% CI: −29.8, −5.4) and T (percent change = −18.2%, 95% CI: −30.2, −4.2) and DDE with LH (percent change = −18.3%, 95% CI: −32.9, −0.6). Exposures measured in the children’s serum at 9 years also showed associations between BDE-153 and ΣPCBs. However, there is evidence that these associations appear to be mediated by child BMI. This study suggests associations on male hormones of 12 year old boys related to exposure to certain EDC exposure prenatally. The implications on future reproductive function in puberty and adulthood should be determined.

Association of prenatal and childhood PBDE exposure with timing of puberty in boys and girls

“…However, we recently reported that prenatal concentrations of BDE-100 and BDE-153 were positively associated with hormone levels, including testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone, in 12 year-old boys in the CHAMACOS cohort (Eskenazi et al, 2016), which is consistent with our finding of earlier puberty in boys.…”

“…In human studies, prenatal PBDE exposure has been associated with reduced fertility (Harley et al 2010) altered thyroid hormone and sex hormone levels (Chevrier et al 2011; Chevrier 2008; Eskenazi et al 2016; Herbstman et al 2008; Lin et al 2011; Stapleton et al 2011), lower infant birth weight (Harley et al 2011) and impaired childhood neurodevelopment and behavior (Chevrier et al 2013; Eskenazi et al 2013; Herbstman et al 2010; Sagiv et al 2015) but only two studies have examined timing of puberty. Among 271 adolescent girls participating in the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES), higher serum PBDE concentrations between ages 12 and 19 years was associated with early menarche (<12 years of age) (Chen et al 2011).…”

Prenatal phthalate exposure and 8-isoprostane among Mexican-American children with high prevalence of obesity

“…For instance, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), including some phthalates, have been linked to puberty onset [57][58][59] and prenatal EDC exposure has been associated with changes in hormone levels in boys from the CHAMACOS cohort. 60 We found that maternal blood concentrations of brominated diphenyl ether (BDE)-100 and −153 during pregnancy were associated with an increase of the leutenizing hormone levels, and BDE-153 was associated with an increase in testosterone in 12-year-old CHAMACOS boys; while dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), after accounting for Tanner stage, was associated with decreases in the hormone levels. In animal studies, high levels of phthalates have been associated with decreased production of both estrogen and testosterone.…”

Prenatal exposure to PCBs and neurological and sexual/pubertal development from birth to adolescence

“…In a study performed in California, USA, higher maternal pregnancy serum PCB levels were found to be associated with higher FSH levels in 12-year-old boys, whereas no associations were found with testosterone or estradiol. 95 In another study performed in the USA, including 10-to 15-year-old children from North Carolina, no significant associations were found between prenatal PCB exposure and stage of pubertal development, as assessed through annual mail questionnaires. 91 In a Taiwanese cohort, the pubertal development of children born to mothers with signs and symptoms of 'Yucheng' oil disease or a history of consumption of the contaminated oil, was compared with the pubertal development of unexposed controls.…”