title: Associations of Peripubertal Serum Dioxin and Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations with Pubertal Timing among Russian Boys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like, have been linked to alterations in puberty.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the association of peripubertal serum levels of these compounds [and their toxic equivalents (TEQs)] with pubertal onset and maturity among Russian boys enrolled at ages 8-9 years and followed prospectively through ages 17-18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  At enrollment, 473 boys had serum dioxin-like compounds and PCBs measured. At the baseline visit and annually until age 17-18 years, a physician performed pubertal staging [genitalia (G), pubarche (P), and testicular volume (TV)]. Three hundred fifteen subjects completed the follow-up visit at 17-18 years of age. Pubertal onset was defined as TV > 3 mL, G2, or P2. Sexual maturity was defined as TV ≥ 20 mL, G5, or P5. Multivariable interval-censored models were used to evaluate associations of lipid-standardized concentrations with pubertal timing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medians (interquartile ranges) of the sum of dioxin-like compounds, TEQs, and non-dioxin-like PCBs were 362 pg/g lipid (279-495), 21.1 pg TEQ/g lipid (14.4-33.2), and 250 ng/g lipid (164-395), respectively. In adjusted models, the highest compared to lowest TEQ quartile was associated with later pubertal onset [TV = 11.6 months (95% CI: 3.8, 19.4); G2 = 10.1 months (95% CI: 1.4, 18.8)] and sexual maturity [TV = 11.6 months (95% CI: 5.7, 17.6); G5 = 9.7 months (95% CI: 3.1, 16.2)]. However, the highest compared to the lowest quartile of non-dioxin-like PCBs, when co-adjusted by TEQs, was associated with earlier pubertal onset [TV = -8.3 months (95% CI:-16.2, -0.3)] and sexual maturity [TV = -6.3 months (95% CI:-12.2, -0.3); G5 = -7.2 months (95% CI:-13.8, -0.6)]; the non-dioxin-like PCB associations were only significant when adjusted for TEQs. TEQs and PCBs were not significantly associated with pubic hair development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that TEQs may delay, while non-dioxin-like PCBs advance, the timing of male puberty. Citation: Burns JS, Lee MM, Williams PL, Korrick SA, Sergeyev O, Lam T, Revich B, Hauser R. 2016. Associations of peripubertal serum dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations with pubertal timing among Russian boys. Environ Health Perspect 124:1801-1807; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP154.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Paige L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Korrick
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sergeyev
authors.forename: Thuy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Revich
authors.forename: Russ
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D012426:Russia; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls