Menstrual cycle characteristics in European and Inuit women exposed to persistent organochlorine pollutants.
BACKGROUND
Previous inconsistent results suggest that menstrual cycles may be disturbed by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (DDE).


METHODS
Information on menstrual cycle characteristics were obtained by questionnaires, and PCB and DDE were measured in serum samples from a total of 1494 women from Greenland, Swedish fishermen's wives, and inhabitants of Warsaw in Poland and Kharkiv in Ukraine.


RESULTS
No consistent effects of PCB and DDE exposure on menstrual cycle characteristics were observed across populations. Within populations, we observed increased risks of short cycles (< or =24 days) among Swedish fishermen's wives exposed to high levels of PCB [odds ratio (OR) 2.5, confidence interval (CI) 1.2-5.1], and increased risk of long cycles (> or =32 days) among Polish women exposed to high levels of DDE (OR 3.1, CI 1.1-8.6). However, in Greenland it seemed that high levels of PCB or DDE were protective against long menstrual cycles (OR 0.7 CI 0.5-0.96 and OR 0.7 CI 0.5-0.99, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
It is unlikely that exposure to PCB and DDE is a main cause of menstrual disturbances. Genetic differences or dietary factors may be involved in the non-homogenous associations of organochlorine exposure and menstrual cycle between countries.
Toft
G
G
Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Noerrebrogade 44, Build 2C, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. gutof@as.aaa.dk
Axmon
A
A
Lindh
C H
CH
Giwercman
A
A
Bonde
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000139:chemically induced; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People
D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls