Association between perfluoroalkyl substances and reproductive hormones in adolescents and young adults.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have explored the association between perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reproductive hormones in adolescents and young adults.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the association of PFAS with reproductive hormones in adolescents and young adults.


METHODS
We recruited 540 subjects aged 12-30 years from a 1992 to 2000 mass urine screening population and established a cohort from 2006 to 2008 via invitations by mail or/and telephone. Serum PFAS levels were analyzed with a Waters ACQUITY UPLC system coupled with a Waters Quattro Premier XE triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Serum reproductive hormone levels were measured by immunoluminometric assay with an Architect random access assay system. PFAS levels were divided into different percentiles according to their detection limits in the multiple regression models to analyze associations between reproductive hormone levels and exposure with PFAS.


RESULTS
The adjusted mean serum level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) decreased significantly in association with the <50th, 50-75, 75-90 and >90th percentile categories of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) compared with a reference category for the females in the 12-17-year-old group. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were significantly decreased in association with the different percentile categories of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the male 12-17-year-old group and the different percentile categories of perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) in the female 12-17-year-old group. The serum FSH levels in the females aged 12-17 were also decreased in association with the different percentile categories of PFUA. On the other hand, there was a significantly negative association between the different percentile categories of PFOS and the serum testosterone level among the female 12-17-year-old group.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the serum concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and PFUA were negatively associated with the serum levels of SHBG, FSH, and testosterone in the young Taiwanese population and that these effects were the strongest in the females aged 12-17. Further studies are needed to determine whether these associations are causal.
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Meng-Shan
MS
Tsai
Department of Internal Medicine, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City 237, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei County 242, Taiwan.
Chien-Yu
CY
Lin
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Ching-Chun
CC
Lin
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin County 640, Taiwan.
Mei-Huei
MH
Chen
Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Sandy H J
SH
Hsu
Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Kuo-Liong
KL
Chien
Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Fung-Chang
FC
Sung
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan. Electronic address: pchen@ntu.edu.tw.
Pau-Chung
PC
Chen
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan. Electronic address: tachensu@ntu.edu.tw.
Ta-Chen
TC
Su
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006728:Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C586085:perfluoroundecanoic acid; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
Adolescent; Perfluoroalkyl substances; Reproductive hormone; Young adults