Increased levels of polychlorobiphenyls in Italian women with endometriosis

Maria Grazia Porpora, Anna Maria Ingelido, Alessandro Di Domenico, di Domenico A, Annamaria Ferro, Ferro A, M Crobu, Manuela Crobu, Crobu M, Debora Pallante, Pallante D, Massimo Cardelli, M. Cardelli, Cardelli M, Ermelando V. Cosmi, Cosmi EV, Elena De Felip, De Felip E
Chemosphere · 2005 · vol. 63(8) , pp. 1361–1367 · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.09.022 · PMID:16289286 · W2089014158
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This study found that Italian women diagnosed with endometriosis exhibit elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) compared to controls.

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Abstract

Endometriosis has been hypothesised to be linked to persistent and toxic organochlorinated chemicals. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds have in particular been associated with the disease, mainly on the basis of experimental studies. Data in women are conflicting. A case-control study on 80 Italian nulliparous women of reproductive age was carried out to assess whether there is a correlation between the presence of endometriosis and blood levels of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), a family of ubiquitary environmental pollutants which comprises congeners with dioxin-like activity. Higher levels of PCBs were found in women with endometriosis. A mean cumulative value of 410 ng g(-1), lipid base, was found in cases versus the value of 250 ng g(-1) observed in the control group (odds ratio for upper tertile 4.0, CI 95% 1.3-13; p = 0.0003). PCB increase involved both dioxin-like (PCBs 105, 118, 156, and 167) and non-dioxin-like congeners (PCBs 101, 138, 153, 170, 180).

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Environmental Pollutants Polychlorinated Biphenyls Adult Case-Control Studies Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollutants Environmental Pollutants Epidemiological Monitoring Female Humans Italy Italy Polychlorinated Biphenyls Polychlorinated Biphenyls

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