Flame Retardants in Placenta and Breast Milk and Cryptorchidism in Newborn Boys

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9924
• Publication Date: 2007-05-29T18:45:20Z
• Authors: Katharina Maria Main; Hannu Kiviranta; Helena Eeva Virtanen; Erno Sundqvist; Jouni Tapio Tuomisto; Jouko Tuomisto; Terttu Vartiainen; Niels Erik Skakkebæk; Jorma Toppari
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Denmark; Placenta; Polybrominated Biphenyls; Statistics as Topic; 01 natural sciences; Pregnancy; Cryptorchidism; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Prospective Studies; Finland; Flame Retardants; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; Milk, Human; Research; Phenyl Ethers; Infant, Newborn; Environmental Exposure; 3. Good health; Case-Control Studies; Female

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used in Western countries.Because the prevalence of cryptorchidism appears to be increasing, we investigated whether exposure PBDEs was associated with testicular maldescent.In a prospective Danish-Finnish study, 1997-2001, all boys were examined for cryptorchidism. We analyzed whole placentas (for 95 cryptorchid/185 healthy boys) and individual breast milk samples (62/68) 14 infant serum gonadotropins, sex-hormone binding globulin, testosterone, inhibin B.In 86 placenta-milk pairs, placenta PBDE concentrations fat lower than milk, larger number congeners nondetectable. There no significant difference between without congeners, sum 5 most prevalent, or congeners. The concentration significantly higher controls (sum BDEs 47, 153, 99, 100, 28, 66, 154: median, 4.16 vs. 3.16 ng/g fat; p < 0.007). positive correlation luteinizing hormone (p 0.033). did not differ Denmark Finland (median, 3.52 3.44 fat), but differences some found.Two different proxies prenatal exposure, levels placenta, showed an association congenital Other environmental factors may contribute Our observations concern because human is high geographic areas.