In-Utero Exposure to Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB) and Menstrual Cycle Function in Adulthood

Details

• Personal Author:
  Barat S ; Barton H ; Gaskins AJ ; Hood RB ; Howards PP ; Kesner JS ; Marcus M ; Meadows JW ; Pearson M ; Spencer JB ; Terrell ML ; Wainstock T
• Description:
  Background: There is evidence that in-utero exposure to PBBs, and similar chemicals, are associated with several adverse reproductive health outcomes including altered pubertal timing. However, less is known about the effects of in-utero exposure to PBBs on menstrual cycle function and reproductive hormone levels in adulthood. Methods: For this menstrual cycle study, we recruited reproductive-aged women in the Michigan PBB Registry who were not pregnant, lactating, or taking hormonal medications (2004-2014). A total of 41 women who were born after the PBB contamination incident (1973-1974) and were prenatally exposed to PBBs, were included in this analysis. We estimated in-utero PBB exposure using maternal serum PBB measurements taken after exposure and extrapolated to time of pregnancy using a PBB elimination model. Women were followed for up to 6 months during which they provided daily urine samples and completed daily diaries. The urine samples were assayed for estrone 3-glucuronide (E13G), pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (Pd3G), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Results: Women in our study were, on average, 27.5 (SD:5.3) years old and contributed 4.9 (SD:1.9) menstrual cycles of follow-up. Compared to women with low in-utero PBB exposure (≤1 ppb), women with medium (>1.0-3.0 ppb) and high (>3.0 ppb) exposure had higher maximum 3-day mean Pd3G levels during the luteal phase. Specifically, the age- and creatinine-adjusted maximum 3-day mean luteal phase Pd3G levels (95% CI) in increasing categories of in-utero PBB exposure were 9.2 (4.6,13.9), 14.8 (11.6,18.0), and 16.1 (12.9,19.3) µg/mg creatinine. There were no meaningful differences in average cycle length, follicular or luteal phase cycle length, bleed length, or creatinine-adjusted E13G or FSH levels by category of in-utero PBB exposure. Conclusion: Higher exposure to PBB in-utero was associated with increased progesterone levels across the luteal phase, however, most other menstrual cycle characteristics were largely unassociated with in-utero PBB exposure. Given our modest sample size, our results require cautious interpretation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biphenyl Compounds Occupational Health Safety Urogenital System
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Biphenyl Compounds Biphenyls Brominated Compounds Brominated Flame Retardants Flame Retardants Hormone Activity In Utero Exposure Menstrual Cycle Menstrual Disorders Polybrominated Biphenyls Progesterone Reproductive Effects Two-generation Study

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• ISSN:
  1438-4639
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  256
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068889
• Citation:
  Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024 Mar; 256:114297
• Contact Point Address:
  Audrey J. Gaskins, 1518 Clifton Road, CNR 3017, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
• Email:
  audrey.jane.gaskins@emory.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ff5d44fb50012c72bd1e70a5e2b2759f77e27e8a52512636eaa6ae654a12415219c44450ebc2496dfcef3dfa01572e2b1965313b83a78188cc00dad7faa648b1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207454/cdc_207454_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.40 MB ]