The endocrine and reproductive function of the female Yucheng adolescents prenatally exposed to PCBs/PCDFs.
BACKGROUND
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (PCDDs) alter sexual maturation and endocrine function in animals. In 1978-1979, a mass poisoning occurred in central Taiwan from cooking oil contaminated by heat-degraded PCBs and oxidated compounds PCDFs. We tested the hypothesis that in utero exposed to PCBs/PCDFs alter sexual maturation, endocrine, and reproductive function in the human pubescent females.


METHODS
In 1997-1999, girls aged 13-19 years, born to mothers exposed to PCBs/PCDFs, was invited to participate in the study. Menstruation characteristic was recorded daily for 84 days and serum levels of estradiol, LH, FSH, and testosterone were measured on the 3rd day of menstruation.


RESULTS
A total of 17 exposed girls and controls participated, the exposed girls reported shorter mean duration of bleeding per cycle than 16 unexposed (5.5 vs 6.5 days, P=0.0055). There was a higher rate of irregular menstrual cycle in the exposed girls (40% vs 0%, P=0.018). Serum levels of estradiol (P=0.016) and FSH (P=0.061) were higher in exposed girls as compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that prenatal exposure to PCBs/PCDFs resulted in abnormal menstruation and higher estradiol and FSH levels in follicular phase of menstrual cycle in adolescent girls.
Yang
Chiu-Yueh
CY
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, 61 Shiao Tong Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan.
Yu
Mei-Lin
ML
Guo
How-Ran
HR
Lai
Te-Jen
TJ
Hsu
Chen-Chin
CC
Lambert
George
G
Guo
Yueliang Leon
YL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000506:poisoning*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000209:etiology*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000506:poisoning*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D013624:Taiwan
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls