US EPA

2199063 

Journal Article 

Abstract 

Endocrine disrupting chemicals, exposures and clinical outcomes in 324 pregnancies in Calgary, Canada 

Jarrell, J; Chan, S 

2003 

1 

Toxicology Letters
ISSN: 0378-4274
EISSN: 1879-3169 

144 

Suppl. 1 

S112-S113 

English 

10.1016/S0378-4274(03)90415-2 

BCI:BCI200300556130 

The presence and concentration of priority chemicals in critical tissue compartments during pregnancy is of interest due to the possibility they may playa role in the development of adverse human reproductive outcomes. To evaluate this question, a prospective longitudinal observational design was selected. 324 women were approached in the second trimester of pregnancy while attending a clinic for the determination of whether they would have a genetic amniocentesis. Only subjects who were seeking the amniocentesis for late maternal age were approached. They provided amniotic fluid, serum during the second trimester, serum at birth and breast milk postpartum. Cord serum was also collected. The patients also completed an environmental questionnaire. The following rates of adverse outcomes were observed: premature labor 3.0%, pregnancy induced hypertension 10.5%, low birth weight 3.5%. This report summarizes the relationships of these outcomes to twenty-four PCB congeners and nineteen organochlorine pesticides from samples collected during pregnancy. The PCBs were analyzed with GC/NCIMS and GC/EIMS was used for pesticide analysis. There were no PCBs or pesticides identified in the amniotic fluid. Significant (p<0.05) findings were the increased concentrations of certain coplanar PCBs (ng/ml) among those patients experiencing pre-term labor: PCBs 118, 138, 170, 153, pregnancy induced hypertension: PCB 118 but not for birth weight <2500 g. Notably there were no differences in the levels of the remaining PCBs or specifically the pesticide DDE in the serum during pregnancy for any of these adverse outcomes. These findings, while limited by the low rate of adverse outcome in the population under review, do support the further exploration of the potential roles of toxic co-planars in outcomes of pregnancy. 

41st Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology 

Florence, Italy 

September 28 - October 1, 2003