title: Menstrual cycle perturbation by organohalogens and elements in the Cree of James Bay, Canada.
abstract: Persistent organohalogens (POHs) and metals have been linked to alterations in menstrual cycle function and fertility in humans. The Cree First Nations people living near James Bay in Ontario and Quebec, Canada, have elevated levels of POHs, mercury and lead compared to other Canadians. The present study examines the interrelationships between selected POHs and elements on menstrual cycle function in these Cree women. Menstrual cycle characteristics were derived from structured daily diaries and endocrine measurements from daily urine samples collected during one cycle for 42 women age 19-42. We measured 31 POHs in blood plasma and 18 elements in whole blood, for 31 of the participants. POHs and elements detected in ≥ 70% of the participants were transformed by principal component (PC) analysis to reduce the contaminant exposure data to fewer, uncorrelated PCA variables. Multiple regression analysis revealed that, after adjusting for confounders, PC-3 values showed significant negative association with cycle length, after adjusting for confounders (p = 0.002). PC-3 accounted for 9.2% of the variance and shows positive loadings for cadmium, selenium, and PBDE congeners 47 and 153, and a negative loading for copper. Sensitivity analysis of the model to quantify likely effect sizes showed a range of menstrual cycle length from 25.3 to 28.3 days using the lower and upper 95% confidence limits of mean measured contaminant concentrations to predict cycle length. Our observations support the hypothesis that the menstrual cycle function of these women may be altered by exposure to POHs and elements from their environment.
authors: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1. Electronic address: wainmanb@mcmaster.ca.
authors: Bruce C
authors: BC
authors: Wainman
authors: Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, 45226, USA.
authors: James S
authors: JS
authors: Kesner
authors: Ian Martin Consultants, Elora, ON, Canada N0B 1S0.
authors: Ian D
authors: ID
authors: Martin
authors: Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, 45226, USA.
authors: Juliana W
authors: JW
authors: Meadows
authors: Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, 45226, USA.
authors: Edward F
authors: EF
authors: Krieg
authors: Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1; Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Evert
authors: E
authors: Nieboer
authors: Health Studies, The Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada M1C 1A4.
authors: Leonard J
authors: LJ
authors: Tsuji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000097:blood*; D007198:Indians, North American; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011792:Quebec; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Cadmium; Cree; Hormones; Lead; Menstrual cycle; Mercury; Persistent organic pollutants