Reproductive hormone levels in men exposed to persistent organohalogen pollutants: a study of inuit and three European cohorts.
OBJECTIVE
Persistent organohalogen pollutant (POP) exposure may have a negative impact on reproductive function. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of POP exposure on the male hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis.


METHODS
Participants included 184 Swedish fishermen and spouses of pregnant women from Greenland (n = 258), Warsaw, Poland (n = 113) , and Kharkiv, Ukraine (n = 194).


METHODS
Serum levels of 2,2,4,4,5,5-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (p,p -DDE) were determined in the four populations, showing different exposure patterns: Swedish fishermen, high CB-153/low p,p -DDE; Greenland, high CB-153/high p,p -DDE; Warsaw, low CB-153/moderate p,p -DDE; Kharkiv, low CB-153/high p,p -DDE. Serum was also analyzed for testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) , inhibin B, luteinizing hormone (LH) , and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) . Free testosterone levels were calculated based on testosterone and SHBG.


RESULTS
We found significant center-to-center variations in the associations between exposure and the outcomes. The most pronounced effects were observed in Kharkiv, where statistically significant positive associations were found between the levels of both CB-153 and p,p -DDE and SHBG, as well as LH. In Greenland, there was a positive association between CB-153 exposure and LH. In the pooled data set from all four centers, there was positive association between p,p -DDE and FSH levels [beta = 1.1 IU/L; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-1.1 IU/L]. The association between CB-153 levels and SHBG was of borderline statistical significance (beta = 0.90 nmol/L; 95% CI, -0.04 to 1.9 nmol/L).


CONCLUSIONS
Gonadotropin levels and SHBG seem to be affected by POP exposure, but the pattern of endocrine response is the subject of considerable geographic variation.
Giwercman
Aleksander H
AH
Molecular Reproductive Medicine Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. aleksander.giwercman@med.lu.se
Rignell-Hydbom
Anna
A
Toft
Gunnar
G
Rylander
Lars
L
Hagmar
Lars
L
Lindh
Christian
C
Pedersen
Henning S
HS
Ludwicki
Jan K
JK
Lesovoy
Vladimir
V
Shvets
Maryna
M
Spano
Marcello
M
Manicardi
Gian Carlo
GC
Bizzaro
Davide
D
Bonefeld-Jorgensen
Eva C
EC
Bonde
Jens Peter
JP
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls