TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between intrauterine exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls on neonatal ano-genital distance
AU - Sheinberg, Revital
AU - Siegel, Eva Laura
AU - Keidar, Rimona
AU - Mandel, Dror
AU - Lubetzky, Ronit
AU - Kohn, Elkana
AU - Livneh, Ayelet
AU - Tovbin, Josef
AU - Betser, Moshe
AU - Moskovich, Miki
AU - Marom, Ronella
AU - Ovental, Amit
AU - Daniel, Sharon
AU - Factor-Litvak, Pam
AU - Berkovitch, Matitiahu
AU - Levy, Amalia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread environmental contaminants. PCBs have endocrine disrupting properties which raises concerns regarding their effect on the developing fetus. This study aimed to examine the association between prenatal exposure to PCBs and anogenital distance (AGD) in newborns. Serum concentrations of PCB congeners -118, -138, -153 and -180 were measured in 175 pregnant women presenting to the delivery room. AGD was measured in their newborns. Regression models were used to estimate associations between maternal PCB exposure and infant anogenital measurements, controlling for possible confounding variables. Mean maternal serum concentrations were 2.95 ± 2.18 ng/g, 4.62 ± 3.54 ng/g, 7.67 ± 6.42 ng/g and 5.10 ± 3.91 ng/g for congeners -118, -138, -153 and -180, respectively. Higher maternal concentrations of PCBs were associated with reduced AGD measures in male infants. Higher maternal concentrations of PCB-138 and PCB-153 were associated with reduced ano-scrotal distances and higher maternal concentrations of all four PCB congeners were associated with reduced ano-penile distances. No significant associations were found between any PCB congener and any AGD measure in female newborns. This study demonstrates that intrauterine exposure to PCBs may be associated with reduced AGD in male newborns. More research is needed to reveal the implications for adult reproductive health.
AB - Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread environmental contaminants. PCBs have endocrine disrupting properties which raises concerns regarding their effect on the developing fetus. This study aimed to examine the association between prenatal exposure to PCBs and anogenital distance (AGD) in newborns. Serum concentrations of PCB congeners -118, -138, -153 and -180 were measured in 175 pregnant women presenting to the delivery room. AGD was measured in their newborns. Regression models were used to estimate associations between maternal PCB exposure and infant anogenital measurements, controlling for possible confounding variables. Mean maternal serum concentrations were 2.95 ± 2.18 ng/g, 4.62 ± 3.54 ng/g, 7.67 ± 6.42 ng/g and 5.10 ± 3.91 ng/g for congeners -118, -138, -153 and -180, respectively. Higher maternal concentrations of PCBs were associated with reduced AGD measures in male infants. Higher maternal concentrations of PCB-138 and PCB-153 were associated with reduced ano-scrotal distances and higher maternal concentrations of all four PCB congeners were associated with reduced ano-penile distances. No significant associations were found between any PCB congener and any AGD measure in female newborns. This study demonstrates that intrauterine exposure to PCBs may be associated with reduced AGD in male newborns. More research is needed to reveal the implications for adult reproductive health.
KW - Anogenital distance
KW - Environmental contaminants
KW - Genital development
KW - Polychlorinated biphenyls
KW - Prenatal exposure
KW - Reproductive toxicity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086452163&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.06.005
DO - 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.06.005
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C2 - 32526315
AN - SCOPUS:85086452163
SN - 0890-6238
VL - 96
SP - 67
EP - 75
JO - Reproductive Toxicology
JF - Reproductive Toxicology
ER -
