title: Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Concentrations in Amniotic Fluid, Biomarkers of Fetal Leydig Cell Function, and Cryptorchidism and Hypospadias in Danish Boys (1980-1996).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) may potentially disturb fetal Leydig cell hormone production and male genital development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to study the associations between levels of amniotic fluid PFOS, fetal steroid hormone, and insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) and the prevalence of cryptorchidism and hypospadias.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Danish National Patient Registry, we selected 270 cryptorchidism cases, 75 hypospadias cases, and 300 controls with stored maternal amniotic fluid samples available in a Danish pregnancy-screening biobank (1980-1996). We used mass spectrometry to measure PFOS in amniotic fluid from 645 persons and steroid hormones in samples from 545 persons. INSL3 was measured by immunoassay from 475 persons. Associations between PFOS concentration in amniotic fluid, hormone levels, and genital malformations were assessed by confounder-adjusted linear and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest tertile of PFOS exposure (> 1.4 ng/mL) in amniotic fluid was associated with a 40% (95% CI: -69, -11%) lower INSL3 level and an 18% (95% CI: 7, 29%) higher testosterone level compared with the lowest tertile (< 0.8 ng/mL). Amniotic fluid PFOS concentration was not associated with cryptorchidism or hypospadias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Environmental PFOS exposure was associated with steroid hormone and INSL3 concentrations in amniotic fluid, but was not associated with cryptorchidism or hypospadias in our study population. Additional studies are needed to determine whether associations with fetal hormone levels may have long-term implications for reproductive health.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Toft G, Jönsson BA, Bonde JP, Nørgaard-Pedersen B, Hougaard DM, Cohen A, Lindh CH, Ivell R, Anand-Ivell R, Lindhard MS. 2016. Perfluorooctane sulfonate concentrations in amniotic fluid, biomarkers of fetal Leydig cell function, and cryptorchidism and hypospadias in Danish boys (1980-1996). Environ Health Perspect 124:151-156; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409288.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.forename: Bo A G
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: Bent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nørgaard-Pedersen
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hougaard
authors.forename: Arieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Christian H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lindh
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ivell
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anand-Ivell
authors.forename: Morten S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lindhard
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000378:metabolism*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000378:metabolism*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid