Prenatal bisphenol a and phthalate exposure are risk factors for male reproductive system development and cord blood sex hormone levels


Sunman B., YURDAKÖK K., Kocer-Gumusel B., ÖZYÜNCÜ Ö., Akbiyik F., Balci A., ...More

Reproductive Toxicology, vol.87, pp.146-155, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 87
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.05.065
  • Journal Name: Reproductive Toxicology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.146-155
  • Keywords: Bisphenol A, Phthalates, Anogenital distance, Penile measurements, Sex hormone levels, Prenatal exposure, IN-UTERO EXPOSURE, ANOGENITAL DISTANCE, DI(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE DEHP, TESTOSTERONE PRODUCTION, DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE, ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS, TEMPORAL VARIABILITY, PROGRAMMING WINDOW, MATERNAL EXPOSURE, PENILE SIZE
  • Lokman Hekim University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2019Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates can adversely affect the fetal development. However, observational studies on the effects of these chemicals on fetal male reproductive system are still limited. A hundred of umbilical cord blood samples were analyzed for the levels of BPA, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), and sex hormones. After birth, male newborns underwent physical examination that included measurements of anogenital distance, stretched penile length (SPL), and penile width. BPA, DEHP and MEHP levels were detectable in ≈99% of cord blood samples. In covariate-adjusted models, cord blood BPA levels were inversely associated with SPL of newborns and positively associated with cord blood estradiol levels. In addition, there was a significant inverse relationship between cord blood DEHP levels and anogenital distance index of newborn males. Our results suggest that in utero BPA and DEHP exposure exerted adverse effects on fetal male reproductive development and cord blood estradiol levels.