Reproductive outcomes among women exposed to a brominated flame retardant in utero.
The authors studied 194 women exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) in utero when their mothers consumed products accidentally contaminated in Michigan in 1973. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the effect of in utero PBB exposure on adult pregnancy-related outcomes. Compared to those with the lowest exposure (≤1 ppb), those with mid-range (>1-3.16 ppb) and high (≥3.17 ppb) PBB exposure had increased odds of spontaneous abortion with wide confidence intervals (odds ratio [OR] = 2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64-11.79, OR = 4.08, 95% CI = 0.94-17.70; respectively; p for trend = .05). Exposure during infancy to PBB-contaminated breast milk further increased this risk. Time to pregnancy and infertility were not associated with in utero exposure to PBB. Future studies should examine the suggested relationship between spontaneous abortion and other brominated flame retardants.
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. csmall@sph.emory.edu
Chanley M
CM
Small
Deanna
D
Murray
Metrecia L
ML
Terrell
Michele
M
Marcus
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008824:Michigan; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D055815:Young Adult
D005411:Flame Retardants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls