Endometriosis among women exposed to polybrominated biphenyls.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the association between endometriosis and exposure to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) among women inadvertently exposed to PBBs in 1973.


METHODS
Serum PBBs and PCBs were measured in the late 1970s. Women self-reported endometriosis at interview in 1997. We constructed Cox models to estimate the relative incidence of endometriosis in relation to PBB and PCB levels.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine of 943 women (9%) reported endometriosis. Compared with women with low PBB exposure (<or=1 parts per billion [ppb]), women with moderate PBB (1-4 ppb) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-1.31) and high PBB (>or=4 ppb) (HR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.51-1.59) exposure did not have increased incidence of endometriosis. Increased incidence of endometriosis was suggested among women exposed to moderate PCB (5-8 ppb) (HR = 1.67; 95% CI, 0.91-3.10) and high PCB (>or=8 ppb) (HR = 1.68; 95% CI, 0.95-2.98) levels compared with low PCB exposure (<or=5 ppb).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study does not support an association between PBB exposure and endometriosis. Findings for serum PCB level are consistent with an emerging body of literature suggesting an association between PCB exposure and endometriosis.
Hoffman
Caroline S
CS
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Small
Chanley M
CM
Blanck
Heidi Michels
HM
Tolbert
Paige
P
Rubin
Carol
C
Marcus
Michele
M
D015331:Cohort Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls