Persistent organochlorine pollutants and menstrual cycle characteristics

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 85; no. 11; pp. 1742 - 1748
• Main Authors: Buck Louis, Germaine M., Rios, Lisbeth Iglesias, McLain, Alexander, Cooney, Maureen A., Kostyniak, Paul J., Sundaram, Rajeshwari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Bleeding; Body Mass Index; Chromatography, Gas; Cohort Studies; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Exact sciences and technology; Fecundity; Female; Fungicides; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - blood; Longitudinal Studies; Medical sciences; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Organochlorinated pesticides; Persistent organochlorine pollutants; Pesticides - blood; Pollutants; Pollution; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Reduction; Regression; Smoking; United States; North America; America; LOD; DDE (p,p′-DDE); PCBs; GC–ECD; Menstruation; Persistent organochlorine pollutants; Organochlorinated pesticides; HCB; CI; β-BHC; hCG; EDCs; TC; OCPs; TG; DDT; Polychlorinated biphenyls; TL; PL; Fecundity; FC; Human; Agricultural chemical product; Menstrual cycle; Toxicity; Pesticides; Polychlorobiphenyls; Epidemiology; Persistent organic pollutant; Chemical pollution; Halogenated hydrocarbon; Health and environment; Chlorocarbon; Aromatic compound; Woman; Organic compounds
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.09.027
• ISSN: 0045-6535

► Prospective cohort study assessing POPs and menstrual cycle length and bleeding duration. ► High estrogenic PCB exposure associated with significantly longer (3 d) menstrual cycles. ► High aromatic fungicide exposure associated with significantly shorter bleeding duration. ► Changes in menstruation may have important implications for female fecundity. An evolving body of evidence suggests an adverse relation between persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) and menstruation, though prospective longitudinal measurement of menses is limited and served as the impetus for study. We prospectively assessed the relation between a mixture of persistent organochlorine compounds and menstrual cycle length and duration of bleeding in a cohort of women attempting to become pregnant. Eighty-three (83%) women contributing 447 cycles for analysis provided a blood specimen for the quantification of 76 polychlorinated biphenyls and seven organochlorine pesticides, and completed daily diaries on menstruation until a human chorionic gonadotropin confirmed pregnancy or 12 menstrual cycles without conception. Gas chromatography with electron capture detection was used to quantify concentrations (ng g −1 serum); enzymatic methods were used to quantify serum lipids (mg dL −1). A linear regression model with a mixture distribution was used to identify chemicals grouped by purported biologic activity that significantly affected menstrual cycle length and duration of bleeding adjusting for age at menarche and enrollment, body mass index, and cigarette smoking. A significant 3-d increase in cycle length was observed for women in the highest tertile of estrogenic PCB congeners relative to the lowest tertile ( β = 3.20; 95% CI 0.36, 6.04). A significant reduction in bleeding (<1 d) was observed among women in the highest versus lowest tertile of aromatic fungicide exposure ( γ = −0.15; 95% CI −0.29, −0.00). Select POPs were associated with changes in menstruation underscoring the importance of assessing chemical mixtures for female fecundity.