Grantee Research Project Results

2004 Progress Report: Dioxins, Male Pubertal Development and Testis Function

EPA Grant Number: R829437
Title: Dioxins, Male Pubertal Development and Testis Function
Investigators: Hauser, Russ , Korrick, Susan A. , Lasley, Bill L. , Williams, Paige L. , Overstreet, James W. , Revich, Boris , Lee, Mary , Sergeyev, Oleg , Zeilert, Vladamir
Current Investigators: Hauser, Russ , Korrick, Susan A. , Williams, Paige L.
Institution: Harvard University , Russian Academy of Sciences , Harvard Medical School , Chapaevsk Medical Association , University of California - Davis , Duke University Medical Center
Current Institution: Harvard University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2005 (Extended to February 3, 2008)
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2003 through November 30, 2004
Project Amount: $2,252,427
RFA: Endocrine Disruptors: Epidemiologic Approaches (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice , Human Health , Safer Chemicals , Endocrine Disruptors

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to determine whether exposure to dioxins, a byproduct of industrial processes and an environmental contaminant, is associated with altered growth and sexual maturation in boys. Specific objectives include exploring whether physical growth is delayed and stunted, whether sexual maturation is delayed, and whether reproductive hormones are altered. Dioxin levels will be measured in blood samples drawn from the boys and their mothers. Yearly physical examinations will be performed to assess growth velocity and onset and tempo of sexual maturation. Questionnaire data will be collected on birth and medical history, as well as lifestyle factors. Statistical modeling will be used to explore the relationship between serum levels of dioxin and altered physical growth and sexual maturation.

Progress Summary:

The following activities have been accomplished:

During the previous year, we recruited 480 boys and their families. The participation rate continues to exceed 90 percent. We continue to examine the boys annually and maintain a high rate of retention (more than 90%).
We completed data analysis of the dioxin results and questionnaire data from 30 boys in our pilot study. Our results showed that dietary consumption of locally raised animals and the distance to Khimprom factories were predictive of blood levels of dioxins. We submitted a manuscript that currently is under review.
We began analysis of the data collected from the first 348 boys recruited into the prospective cohort study. These results suggest that exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds is high, as expected, in this population of pre-adolescents. We will continue to complete the analysis on all 550 boys during the upcoming year.

Future Activities:

We hope to complete recruitment of 550 boys, ages 8 and 9 years old, into the prospective cohort study. All boys will undergo a physical exam, have blood drawn, provide a urine sample, and complete a detailed questionnaire with their mother. Each boy's mother also will have blood drawn. We will follow these boys annually until age 18 when we can assess reproductive fitness by collecting a semen sample.

Journal Articles on this Report : 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 11 publications	9 publications in selected types	All 9 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Hauser R, Williams P, Altshul L, Korrick S, Peeples L, Patterson Jr. DG, Turner WE, Lee MM, Revich B, Zeilert V, Sergeyev O. Characterization and predictors of serum dioxin levels among adolescent boys in Chapaevsk, Russia. Organohalogen Compounds 2004;66:3245-3251.	R829437 (2004) R829437 (2006) R829437 (2007) R829437 (Final)	not available
Journal Article	Hauser R, Williams P, Altshul L, Korrick S, Peeples L, Patterson DG Jr, Turner WE, Lee MM, Revich B, Sergeyev O. Predictors of serum dioxin levels among adolescent boys in Chapaevsk, Russia: a cross-sectional pilot study. Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source 2005;4(1):8.	R829437 (2004) R829437 (2006) R829437 (2007) R829437 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Associated PubMed link Full-text: Environmental Health Exit Other: Environmental Health PDF Exit
Journal Article	Sergeyev O, Revich B, Williams P, Korrick S, Zeilert V, Lee MM, Ushakova T, Saharov I, Altshul L, Hauser R. A case-cohort study of cryptorchidism, hypospadias and delayed sexual maturation in a dioxin contaminated region: Chapaevsk, Russia. Organohalogen Compounds 2002;59:385-388.	R829437 (2004) R829437 (2006) R829437 (2007) R829437 (Final)	not available

Supplemental Keywords:

adolescents, children, dioxins, growth, maturation, puberty, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, EDCs, cell-cell interactions, chemical interference, developmental biology, dioxin, embryonic development, endocrine disrupting chemicals, exposure, fetal development, gonad morphology,, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Health Risk Assessment, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, Risk Assessments, Biochemistry, Children's Health, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, Biology, neurotropin growth, male sexual development, dioxin, puberty, cell-cell interactions, testis development, EDCs, endocrine disrupting chemicals, sexual development, sertoli cells, developmental biology, hypospadias, human growth and development, physiology, fetal development, human exposure, chemical interference, embryonic development, gonad morphology, testis function, postnatal development, paracine growth factors, male fertility

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.