title: Infecundity and consumption of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated fish.
abstract: Biologic capacity for reproduction, or fecundity, may be threatened by environmental contaminants, especially compounds capable of disrupting endocrine pathways. Telephone interviews that focused on reproductive events were conducted with female members of the New York State Angler Cohort Study who became pregnant between 1991 and 1993 and who reported known time to pregnancy (N = 895; 73%). Consumption of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated Lake Ontario sportfish and other factors were ascertained in 1991. The authors classified the women as follows: (a) fecund (time to pregnancy < or =12 cycles; n = 723); (b) having resolved infecundity (time to pregnancy > 12 cycles; n = 81); or (c) having unresolved infecundity (time to pregnancy > 12 cycles without pregnancy; n = 94). Adjusted odds ratios for duration of fish consumption for both resolved and unresolved infecundity were elevated (1.46 and 1.19, respectively), although confidence intervals included unity. Frequency of recent fish consumption was associated with an increased risk for select categories, although confidence intervals included one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University at Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: McGuinness
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mendola
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Sever
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Vena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls