Polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure and reproductive hormones in North American men.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardant chemicals that are persistent organic pollutants. Animal experiments and some human studies indicate that PBDEs may adversely affect male reproductive function.



To assess the association between PBDE exposure and reproductive hormones (RHs) in a North American male adult cohort.



From 2010-11, we collected three serum samples from 27 healthy adult men. We assessed associations between PBDEs and RHs using mixed effect regression models.



PBDEs were inversely associated with inhibin-B. In older men, increased concentrations of BDE-47 and BDE-100 were significantly associated with a decrease in inhibin-B, and an increase in follicular stimulating hormone (FSH).



These findings suggest PBDE exposure may affect RHs in older men. We did not measure other parameters of male reproductive function and therefore these results are preliminary.
Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Electronic address: cmakey@bu.edu.
Colleen M
CM
Makey
Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Michael D
MD
McClean
Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Lewis E
LE
Braverman
Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Elizabeth N
EN
Pearce
Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Andreas
A
Sjödin
Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 1010 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Janice
J
Weinberg
Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Thomas F
TF
Webster
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Environmental health; Flame retardants; Male reproductive health; Persistent organic pollutants; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)