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Victoria Persky,¹ Mary Turyk,¹ Henry A. Anderson,² Lawrence P Hanrahan,² Claire Falk,² Dyan N. Steenport,² Robert Chatterton, Jr.,³ Sally Freels,¹ and the Great Lakes Consortium^*

¹Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; ²Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; ³Immunoassay Core Facility Laboratory of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may alter thyroid function, but data on effects of PCB exposure on other endogenous hormones has been lacking. The current study is ancillary to a larger investigation of the effects of Great Lakes fish consumption on PCBs and reproductive function. In the current study we examine associations of PCBs, 1,1-bis (4-chlorophenyl) -2,2-dichloroethene (DDE) , and fish consumption with thyroid and steroid hormones in 178 men and PCBs, DDE, and fish consumption with thyroid hormones in 51 women from the original study. Serum PCB level and consumption of Great Lakes fish are associated with significantly lower levels of thyroxine (T₄) and free thyroxine index (FTI) in women and with significantly lower levels of T₄ in men. Fish consumption, but not PCB level, is significantly and inversely associated with triiodothyronine (T₃) in men. Results for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are inconsistent. Among men, there are significant inverse associations of both PCB and fish consumption with sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) -bound testosterone, but no association with SHBG or free testosterone. There are no significant overall associations of PCB, DDE, or fish consumption with estrone sulfate, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The results of this study are consistent with previous studies showing effects of fish consumption and PCB exposure on thyroid hormones and suggest that PCBs may also decrease steroid binding to SHBG. Elucidation of specific mechanisms must await future investigations. Key words: consumption, fish, hormones, PCBs, steroid, thyroid. Environ Health Perspect 109:1275-1283 (2001) . [Online 30 November 2001]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2001/109p1275-1283persky/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to V. Persky, Room 508, 2121 Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612. Telephone: (312) 996-4783. Fax: (312) 996-0064. E-mail: vwpersky@uic.edu

*Great Lakes Consortium: James Boddy, Lorain County Health Department, Elyria, OH ; Marvin Budd, Michigan Department of Public Health, Big Rapids, MI ; Mandy Burkett, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, OH ; Beth Fiore, Wisconsin Division of Health, Madison WI ; Harold E.B. Humphrey, Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing, MI ; Robert Johnson, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, OH ; Grace Lee, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL ; Susan Monaghan, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL ; Daniel Reed, Lorain County Health Department, Elyria, OH ; Tracey Shelley, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, OH ; William Sonzogni, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI ; Greg Steele, Indiana Board of Health, Indianapolis, IN ; Dollis Wright, Indiana Board of Health, Indianapolis, IN.

We thank M. Wolff for her insightful comments, J. Piorkowski for her help coordinating the hormone assays, and D. Hryhorczuk for his help in establishing the collaboration.

This research was funded by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia (grant no. H75/ATH598322) .

Received 13 February 2001 ; accepted 11 May 2001.