Maternal Exposure to a Brominated Flame Retardant and Genitourinary Conditions in Male Offspring

Abstract

BackgroundThe upward trend in industrial nations in the incidence of male genitourinary (GU) conditions may be attributed to increased exposure to endocrine disruptors. Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), a brominated flame retardant, is one such suspected endocrine disruptor.ObjectiveWe investigated the relationship between maternal serum levels of PBBs and GU conditions among male offspring exposed in utero.MethodsIn this cohort study of sons born to women accidentally exposed to PBBs during 1973–1974, we examined self-reported data on GU conditions among male offspring in relation to maternal serum PBB levels. We used generalized estimating equations to calculate odds ratios (ORs), controlling for gestational age at birth.ResultsOf 464 sons, 33 reported any GU condition (13 hernias, 10 hydroceles, 9 cryptorchidism, 5 hypospadias, and 1 varicocele). Four reported both hernia and hydrocele, and one both hernia and cryptorchidism. After adjustment for gestational age at birth, sons of highly exposed women (> 5 ppb) were twice as likely to report any GU condition compared with sons of the least exposed women [≤1 ppb; OR = 2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8–5.1]. This risk was increased when we excluded sons born after the exposure but before the mother’s serum PBB measurement (OR = 3.1; 95% CI, 1.0–9.1). We found evidence of a 3-fold increase in reported hernia or hydrocele among sons with higher PBB exposure (test of trend p-value = 0.04). Neither hypospadias nor cryptorchidism was individually associated with PBB exposure.ConclusionsAlthough cryptorchidism and hypospadias were not associated with in utero PBB exposure, this study suggests that other GU conditions may be associated with exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals during development.

The epidemiologic evidence linking prenatal and postnatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals with male reproductive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…(2012)USA (12 centers)Collaborative Perinatal Project197/557Third trimester serumHighest quartile versus lowest trans -nonachlor1.080.62–1.89Yes90Oxychlordane1.240.69–2.22Yes9Bhatia et al . (2005)USA, San FranciscoChild Health and Development Study66/283Maternal serumHighest versus lowest quartilep,p′-DDT0.790.33–1.89Yes90p,p′-DDE1.180.46–3.02Yes90Small et al . (2009)USA, MichiganMichigan Long-term PBB Study14/431Maternal serumHighest versus lowest (<LOD).…”

Hypospadias: Interactions between environment and genetics

“…Moreover, the critical level of exposure to EDCs was not assessed in any of the epidemiological studies implicating the environment [67] [125]. No relationship was identified between polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) [127] or polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure [128] and hypospadias. A recent meta-analysis indicated only a modestly increased risk of hypospadias associated with pesticide exposure [129].…”

Quantification of Polybrominated and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Human Matrices by Isotope-Dilution Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

“…Not only were a large proportion of the reported data below the LOD but this also precluded evaluation of individual congener associations, which may contribute differently to toxicity and to related health outcomes. Even with such limited exposure characterization, research with this population has demonstrated intergenerational transfer of PBBs (12) and exposure-related health effects including poorer neonatal health (13), adverse reproductive outcomes (14), menstrual irregularities (15), accelerated pubertal development among females (16), increased incidence of urogenital problems (17), slower growth among males (18) and risk of digestive cancer and lymphoma (19) as well as a non-statistically significant increased incidence of breast cancer (19,20).…”