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ENVIRONMENTAL PCB EXPOSURE AND RISK OF ENDOMETRIOSIS
Citation:
Buck, G. M., J. M. Weiner, J. M. Sperrazza, E. F. Schisterman, Crickard, H. Greizerstein, P. Kostyniak, B. Whitcomb, AND D. T. LOBDELL. ENVIRONMENTAL PCB EXPOSURE AND RISK OF ENDOMETRIOSIS. Human Reproduction (ed.), HUMAN REPRODUCTION 20(1):279-285, (2005).
Impact/Purpose:
To assess the relation between endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent gynecologic disease, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congeners
Description:
BACKGROUND: Hormonally active environmental agents recently have been associated with the development of endometriosis. METHODS: We undertook a study to assess the relation between endometriosis, an estrogen dependent gynecologic disease, and 62 individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congeners. We enrolled 84/100 eligible women aged 18-40 years undergoing laparoscopy for study, which included an interview and blood specimen (n=80; 95%). Thirty-two women had visually confirmed endometriosis at laparoscopy while 52 did not. Blood specimens were run in batches of 14 including four quality control samples for toxicologic analysis. Each PCB congener was adjusted for recovery; batch specific reagent blanks were subtracted. All PCB concentrations were log transformed and expressed in ng/g serum first as a sum and then tertiles by purported estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity of PCB congeners. RESULTS: Using unconditional logistic regression analysis, an elevated risk of endometriosis was observed for the log of total PCBs (OR=1.61; 95% CI =0.63,4.14) after controlling for gravidity, current cigarette smoking and serum lipids. Risk of endometriosis remained elevated for the third tertile of anti-estrogenic PCB congeners (OR=3.11; 95% CI=0.84,11.51) but not estrogenic congeners (OR=1.02; 95%CI=0.29,3.54). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that anti-estrogenic PCBs may be associated with development of endometriosis.
Keywords: Endometriosis/ endocrine disruptors/ environment/ fecundity/ polychlorinated biphenyls.