Evidence of reproductive endocrine effects in women with occupational fuel and solvent exposures.

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.

Current understandings and perspectives on non-cancer health effects of benzene: A global concern

“…Similarly low sperm motility has been noted in 50 aircraft maintenance workers exposed to jet fuel containing benzene (Lemasters et al, 1999). Besides affecting the reproductive health of male, benzene has been reported to affect the reproductive health of female by disturbing the menstrual cycle and various hormones of reproductive system (Reutman et al, 2002). A study published from china by Huang (1991) has shown reproductive dysfunction in female workers exposed to benzene and toluene in shoe making industry.…”

Decreased total and ionized calcium levels and haematological indices in occupational lead exposure as evidence of the endocrine disruptive effect of lead

“…Though great efforts have been expended in reducing the lead level in the environment this goal is yet to be achieved in most developing countries. [22] Thus for these countries excessive Pb in the environment probably combined with hydrocarbons (HCs), [42,58] may be among the most important endocrine disruptors; probably not the bisphenols that need focus.…”

Health outcomes among infants born to women deployed to United States military operations during pregnancy

“…In fact, media reports have indicated some service members have elected to store their semen prior to deployment because of concerns about their reproduc-reproductive health. Several environmental hazards were identified as specific reproductive health concerns in the 1991 Gulf War theater (Arfsten et al, 2001;Reutman et al, 2002;Wheeler et al, 1994). Measures intended to prevent illness in troops, including pesticides, prophylactic medications, and some immunizations, have also been considered potential reproductive health hazards (Hanke and Jurewicz, 2004;Jacobson et al, 2008a;Ryan et al, 2008a;Ryan et al, 2008b;Ryan and Seward, 2008).…”