Evidence of Reproductive Endocrine Effects in Women with Occupational Fuel and Solvent Exposures

Details

• Personal Author:
  Burroughs, G. Edward ; Kesner JS ; Knecht EA ; LeMasters GK ; Lockey, James E. ; Reutman SR ; Shukla R
• Description:
  Hydrocarbons (HCs) found in fuels and solvents are ubiquitous in the environment, yet we know little about their effects on the endocrine system. The objective of this study was to assess the potential reproductive endocrine effects of low-dose HCs encountered by female U.S. Air Force personnel with fuel (primarily JP-8 jet fuel) and solvent exposures (n = 63). We estimated the internal dose of HCs in fuels and solvents by measuring their levels in exhaled breath, including the sum of aliphatic HCs (C6H14-C16H34) and the sum of aromatic HCs (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and m,p,o-xylenes). Adverse outcome measures included urinary endocrine markers that have been associated with nonconceptive (vs. conceptive) menstrual cycles in ovulatory women: lower preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) and mid-luteal phase pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (Pd3G) and estrone 3-glucuronide, and higher follicle phase Pd3G. We also obtained reproductive and exposure information from baseline questionnaires and daily diaries. Toluene was the most frequently found analyte in the breath, with values up to 52.0 ppb, and benzene breath levels were up to 97.5 ppb. Regression analysis revealed that preovulatory LH levels were significantly lower (p = 0.007) among women whose total aliphatic HC levels were above the median. The relationship between elevated aliphatic HC exposure and lowered preovulatory LH levels in the present study suggests that compounds in fuels and some solvents may act as reproductive endocrine disruptors. Confirmation of these findings is needed, not only to determine if fuel and solvent exposure may impact other LH-dependent physiologic functions but also to examine effects of fuels and solvents on conception. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Endocrine System Endocrine System Diseases Fuel Oils Hydrocarbons Occupational Health Safety Solvents Urogenital Diseases Urogenital System
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Epidemiology Endocrine-system-disorders Estrogen Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Fuel Fuels Humans Hydrocarbon Luteinizing Hormone Military Military-personnel Progesterone Reproduction Reproductive-effects Reproductive-hazards Solvent Solvent-vapors

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• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  110
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20022367
• Citation:
  Environ Health Perspect 2002 Aug; 110(8):805-811
• Contact Point Address:
  S.R. Reutman, 104 Park Avenue, Elsmere, KY 41018 USA
• Email:
  ereutman@hotmail.com
• CAS Registry Number:
  Benzene (CAS RN 71-43-2) ; Ethylbenzene (CAS RN 100-41-4) ; Luteinizing hormone (CAS RN 9002-67-9) ; m-Xylene (CAS RN 108-38-3) ; o-Xylene (CAS RN 95-47-6) ; p-Xylene (CAS RN 106-42-3) ; Toluene (CAS RN 108-88-3)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Fertility and Pregnancy Abnormalities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health Perspectives
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e67247e5823fab32b9e1dda58c5caf2eb8d028a03faa9035c825aa7efefce8639d7823b0ccac902e9f7655f404f76ec3cb1cc6666fa1acd5443e2447cdc8e0e3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199170/cdc_199170_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 588.85 KB ]