title: Maternal contamination with PCBs and reproductive outcomes in an Australian population.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls used previously in industry are widespread environmental contaminants under scrutiny for their possible reproductive effects in humans. In this study, 200 breast milk samples from eligible Victorian mothers were used for measuring maternal contamination and their possible effect on the offspring was investigated. No significant association was found between maternal PCB contamination and low birth weight, small for gestational age and previous miscarriage or stillbirth. The elevated odd ratios of prematurity, increased with increase in contamination level but were nonsignificant. Higher PCB contamination was not in favor of any gender in the offspring. Our results suggest that chronic, low contamination with PCBs does not pose a reproduction threat in humans.
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine (Monash University), The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. narges.khanjani@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khanjani
authors.forename: Malcolm Ross
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012744:Sex Ratio; D050497:Stillbirth; D014739:Victoria
chemical_list: D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls