Work

Prenatal occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals during pregnancy and adult male reproductive hormones

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: RESEARCH QUESTION: Does maternal occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) during pregnancy affect reproductive hormone concentrations in adult sons? DESIGN: Data from a cross-sectional study of 2326 Swiss conscripts collected between 2005 and 2017 were analysed. On inclusion, the conscripts' mothers completed a detailed questionnaire about their pregnancy. A job-exposure matrix was used to assess exposure to 10 categories of potential EDC. Reproductive hormones - FSH, LH, total and free testosterone, oestradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) - were determined in serum samples from all conscripts whose mothers were exposed to EDC during pregnancy (n = 138) and a random sample of non-exposed conscripts (n = 276). Multiple linear regression analyses were adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Prenatal exposure to phthalates or alkyl phenolic compounds was significantly associated with higher FSH concentrations (aβ = 0.26, 95% CI 0.03-0.49, and aβ = 0.22, 95% CI 0.02-0.42, respectively) and prenatal exposure to pesticides was significantly associated with higher SHBG concentrations (aβ = 0.22, 95% CI 0.05-0.38). No statistically significant associations were found between other EDC categories and reproductive hormones. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal occupational exposure to certain types of EDC during pregnancy was associated with the concentrations of reproductive hormones in adult sons. These findings require replication in larger, prospective population studies.

Source: Reproductive BioMedicine Online

DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2025.105236