Polybrominated Biphenyl Exposure and Menstrual Cycle Function

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Penelope Howards, Emory University; Metrecia L. Terrell, Emory University; Melanie H. Jacobson, Emory University; Kira C. Taylor, Emory University; James S. Kesner, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Juliana W. Meadows, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Jessica Spencer, Emory University; Amita Manatunga, Emory University; Michele Marcus, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-09-01
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000001045
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Epidemiology
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 687
• End Page: 694
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was also supported by grant R 82530 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, grant U37/CCU500392 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and grant P30 ES019776 from NIH.; The results reported herein correspond to specific aims of grant R01 ES08341 and R01 ES012014 to investigator Michele Marcus from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Keywords: Endocrine; Hormone; Science & Technology; Luteal phase; Biphenyl compounds; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Diphenyl ethers pbdes; Organic chemicals; Polybrominated biphenyls; Flame retardants; women; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Follicular phase; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Menstrual cycle
• Research Categories: Biology, Bioinformatics; Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Biology, Biostatistics

Abstract

Background: Brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), are persistent compounds reported to affect sex hormones in animals; less is known about potential effects in humans. An industrial accident in 1973–1974 exposed Michigan residents to PBB through contaminated food. We examined whether this exposure to PBB had long-term effects on menstrual cycle function. Methods: In 2004–06, we recruited reproductive-aged women in the Michigan PBB Registry who were not pregnant, lactating, or taking hormonal medications. Participants kept daily diaries and provided daily urine for up to 6 months. We assayed urine samples for estrone 3-glucuronide (E13G), pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (Pd3G), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). We fit linear mixed models among women aged 35–42 years to describe the relation between serum PBB levels and log-transformed, creatinine-adjusted daily endocrine levels among women who were premenarchal during the exposure incident in 1973–74 (n=70). Results: We observed that high (>3.0 parts per billion (ppb)) and medium (>1.0–3.0 ppb) PBB exposure were associated with lower E13G levels across the menstrual cycle and lower FSH levels during the follicular phase, compared with low PBB exposure (≤1.0 ppb). High PBB exposure was also associated with lower Pd3G levels across the cycle compared with low PBB exposure, whereas Pd3G levels were similar in women with medium and low PBB exposure. Conclusions: Our results are consistent with a hypothesized effect of exposure to an exogenous estrogen agonist but the modest sample size of the study requires cautious interpretation.