title: Prenatal and early life exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls may influence dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels at prepubertal age: results from the Duisburg birth cohort study.
abstract: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are postulated to act as endocrine disrupters. In the ongoing Duisburg birth cohort study, started in 2000-2002, influence of persistent organic pollutants (POP) on child development was monitored. For the first time, associations were reported between prenatal and postnatal PCDD/F and PCB exposures and early endocrinological changes concerning adrenarchal development. PCDD/F and PCB concentrations were measured in blood samples taken in wk 32 of pregnancy and in breast milk using gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS). At the age of 6-7 and 8-9 yr, serum samples were collected from 111 children. The samples were assayed for the sex hormones testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and 17-OH-progesterone (17-OHP) by using an automated chemiluminescence assay system. Analyses of repeated measurements of DHEA-S serum levels were performed by linear regression analysis using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Linear regression analysis showed a positive association between DHEA-S and breast milk levels of PCDD/F and PCB expressed as toxicity equivalents according to toxicity equivalent factors published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2005 (WHO(2005)-TEq) (increase of 29%, geometric mean ratio, GMR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1. 58 per doubling of PCDD/F + PCB WHO(2005)-TEq levels). Results for the association with the WHO(2005)-TEq levels in blood of mothers were in the same direction (increase of 15%, GMR 1.15, 95% CI 0.93-1.42 per doubling of PCDD/F + PCB WHO(2005)-TEq levels), but not significant. Data indicate that PCDD/F and PCB exposure in infancy may influence DHEA-S serum levels in prepubertal children. Increased DHEA-S serum levels are considered to indicate acceleration of the adrenal maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rennert
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wittsiepe
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasper-Sonnenberg
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005663:Furans; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls