title: Flame retardants in placenta and breast milk and cryptorchidism in newborn boys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used in Western countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Because the prevalence of cryptorchidism appears to be increasing, we investigated whether exposure to PBDEs was associated with testicular maldescent.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective Danish-Finnish study, 1997-2001, all boys were examined for cryptorchidism. We analyzed whole placentas (for 95 cryptorchid/185 healthy boys) and individual breast milk samples (62/68) for 14 PBDEs and infant serum samples for gonadotropins, sex-hormone binding globulin, testosterone, and inhibin B.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 86 placenta-milk pairs, placenta PBDE concentrations in fat were lower than in breast milk, and a larger number of congeners were nondetectable. There was no significant difference between boys with and without cryptorchidism for individual congeners, the sum of 5 most prevalent, or all 14 congeners. The concentration of PBDEs in breast milk was significantly higher in boys with cryptorchidism than in controls (sum of BDEs 47, 153, 99, 100, 28, 66, and 154: median, 4.16 vs. 3.16 ng/g fat; p < 0.007). There was a positive correlation between the sum of PBDEs and serum luteinizing hormone (p < 0.033). The sum of PBDEs in breast milk did not differ between Denmark and Finland (median, 3.52 vs. 3.44 ng/g fat), but significant differences in some individual congeners were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two different proxies were used for prenatal PBDE exposure, and levels in breast milk, but not in placenta, showed an association with congenital cryptorchidism. Other environmental factors may contribute to cryptorchidism. Our observations are of concern because human exposure to PBDEs is high in some geographic areas.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. katharina.main@rh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Katharina Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Main
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiviranta
authors.forename: Helena Eeva
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Virtanen
authors.forename: Erno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sundqvist
authors.forename: Jouni Tapio
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Tuomisto
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomisto
authors.forename: Terttu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vartiainen
authors.forename: Niels Erik
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Skakkebaek
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toppari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether