| Evidence of Reproductive Endocrine Effects in Women with Occupational Fuel and Solvent Exposures Susan R. Reutman,1 Grace Kawas LeMasters,1 Edwin A. Knecht,2 Rakesh Shukla,1 James E. Lockey,1 G. Edward Burroughs,2 James S. Kesner2 1Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; 2National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Abstract
Hydrocarbons (HCs) found in fuels and solvents are ubiquitous in the environment, yet we know little about their effects on the endocrine system. The objective of this study was to assess the potential reproductive endocrine effects of low-dose HCs encountered by female U.S. Air Force personnel with fuel (primarily JP-8 jet fuel) and solvent exposures (n = 63) . We estimated the internal dose of HCs in fuels and solvents by measuring their levels in exhaled breath, including the sum of aliphatic HCs (C6H14-C16H34) and the sum of aromatic HCs (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and m,p,o-xylenes) . Adverse outcome measures included urinary endocrine markers that have been associated with nonconceptive (vs. conceptive) menstrual cycles in ovulatory women: lower preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) and mid-luteal phase pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (Pd3G) and estrone 3-glucuronide, and higher follicle phase Pd3G. We also obtained reproductive and exposure information from baseline questionnaires and daily diaries. Toluene was the most frequently found analyte in the breath, with values up to 52.0 ppb, and benzene breath levels were up to 97.5 ppb. Regression analysis revealed that preovulatory LH levels were significantly lower (p = 0.007) among women whose total aliphatic HC levels were above the median. The relationship between elevated aliphatic HC exposure and lowered preovulatory LH levels in the present study suggests that compounds in fuels and some solvents may act as reproductive endocrine disruptors. Confirmation of these findings is needed, not only to determine if fuel and solvent exposure may impact other LH-dependent physiologic functions but also to examine effects of fuels and solvents on conception. Key words: epidemiology, estrogen, fuel, hydrocarbon, luteinizing hormone, military, progesterone, reproduction, solvent. Environ Health Perspect 110:805-811 (2002) . [Online 25 June 2002] http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p805-811reutman/ abstract.html Address correspondence to S.R. Reutman, 104 Park Avenue, Elsmere, KY 41018 USA. Telephone: (859) 342-6959. E-mail: ereutman@hotmail.com We thank E. Krieg Jr. (NIOSH) for data analysis assistance ; we also thank USAF participants and collaborators and on-site bioenvironmental engineering personnel. This study was sponsored by the U.S. Army Defense Women's Health Research Program (award DAMD17-96-2-6015) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center for Environmental Genetics (1P30ES06096) . Received 30 August 2001 ; accepted 7 February 2002.
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