Assessment of human contamination of estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their risk for human reproduction.
There is broad human exposure to estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but the data sets that exist are primarily for various environmental media such as food and water rather than the most relevant internal exposure. We have detected various kind of EDC contamination in humans including dioxin and bisphenol A (BPA) widely used for the production of plastic products. BPA was present in serum and follicular fluid at approximately 1-2 ng/ml, as well as in fetal serum and full-term amniotic fluid, confirming passage through the placenta. An approximately five-fold higher concentration, 8.3+/-8.7 ng/ml, was revealed in amniotic fluid at 15-18 weeks of gestation, compared to other fluids showing increased exposure at the critical developmental period in humans. Interestingly, serum BPA concentrations were significantly higher in normal men and in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with normal women possibly due to differences in the androgen-related metabolism of BPA. These findings may provide some insight into the metabolism of EDCs in human and the pathophysiology of endocrine disorders such as PCOS. Dioxin contamination in relationship to development of endometriosis is also discussed.
Tsutsumi
Osamu
O
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. osamut-tky@umin.ac.jp
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D010636:Phenols; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds