共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 31 毫秒
1.
Variation of POP concentrations in fresh-fallen snow and air on an Alpine glacier (Monte Rosa) 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
To understand better the mechanisms ruling the fate of POPs (persistent organic pollutants) in cold environments, a field campaign sampling fresh-fallen snow and air on an Alpine glacier was carried out during Summer 2003. The concentrations of all analyzed chemicals in fresh-fallen snow show a sharp decrease over time, particularly for the more volatile POPs, confirming the rather limited literature evidence of a rapid decline of such substances from the snowpack and/or ice. Even if the results presented here are preliminary and should be confirmed by further studies, some evidence of the influence of a night/day cycle of temperature on POP deposition and revolatilization mechanisms has been highlighted. Finally, the role of cold condensation and long-range atmospheric transport in the contamination of higher altitudes in this Alpine system has been substantiated, particularly for OC pesticides. 相似文献
2.
Recent water policy at national and international level have been addressed toward environmental objectives aimed to protect water resources and develop their sustainable management. Water framework Directives, considering all surface waters and their specific ecosystems and interrelationships among the different components, were just approved in Italy in 1999 and in the European Union in 2000. A brief analysis on the chemical, physical and biological monitoring and ecotoxicological methods required is shown in this paper. The need of developing a series of adequate biological and ecotoxicological tests is underlined. 相似文献
3.
《Contraception》2013,87(6):653-658
BackgroundProgestin-only contraceptive pills (POPs) offer a safe and effective contraceptive option, particularly for women at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. However, the prevalence of POP use among women in the United States is unknown.Study DesignWe analyzed population-based data from 12,279 women aged 15–44 years in the National Survey of Family Growth. Data were collected continuously from 2006 to 2010 by in-person, computerized household interviews. Analyses describe POP use across sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics and thromboembolic risk profiles.ResultsOverall, 0.4% of all reproductive-aged women in the United States currently use POPs. POP use was higher among parous, postpartum and breastfeeding women than their counterparts (all p values<.001). Women at higher risk of thromboembolism (older, obese, diabetic or smoking women) had similar proportions of POP use as women without those risks.ConclusionPOPs are rarely used by US women. While data on chronic disease were limited, our results suggest that relatively few women with increased risk of thromboembolism are considering POPs when choosing an oral contraceptive. 相似文献
4.
Maternal blood levels of persistent organic pollutants can be used to estimate in utero exposure 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Abballe A Guarino M Taggi F Traina ME Urbani E Valentini S De Felip E 《Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanità》2008,44(3):281-291
The presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the fetal environment raises concerns for their possible interferences with the developmental process, resulting into morphological and/or functional impairments of the organism. Human biomonitoring has been widely recognized as the action to be undertaken to characterize children's exposure to environmental pollutants in the different life stages, starting from conception. The main objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between concentrations assessed in maternal blood versus those present in umbilical cord blood to evaluate if POP levels determined in maternal blood can be considered representative of fetal exposure. Data on POP concentrations determined in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood were retrieved from literature. Studies selected used highly specific analytical techniques, and were published within the last 15 years. Our analysis involved POPs of high toxicological significance, as organochlorinated pesticides, polychlorodibenzodioxins and poliychlorodibenzofurans, polychlorobiphenyls and their hydroxylated metabolites, and polybromodiphenylethers. Linear correlations between maternal and cord blood concentrations, expressed on a lipid base, were observed for most of these pollutants. This result indicates a possible use of data on maternal blood POP levels to quantitatively predict in utero exposure. 相似文献
5.
6.
Bergqvist PA Jegorova I Kauneliene V Zaliauskiene A 《Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology》2007,79(2):147-152
In recent decades, knowledge and concern regarding persistent organic pollutants and the environmental hazards they may pose
have increased considerably, leading to international agreements such as the United Nations environment program Stockholm
convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), to minimize further release of POPs into the environment (UNECE Protocol,
1979; UNEP Stockholm convention, 2001; UNECE Convention, 1998). National POP monitoring programs should be designed to identify,
characterize and address the release of the POPs listed in the Stockholm convention. However, analyses of grab samples only
provide crude snapshots of total concentrations at single points in space and time, which may be highly unrepresentative of
average concentrations, and fail to account for differences in the POPs’ bioavailability and various other relevant factors.
To obtain a better understanding of the fate and availability of pollutants in the environment it is necessary to obtain data
regarding their site-specific and regional exposure levels. Exposure levels expressed in terms of total chemical concentrations
do not reflect the actual exposure of organisms, and thus may not accurately reflect the true risks posed. Therefore, environmental
monitoring programs would be improved by using reliable, integrative sampling methods that would not only allow time-weighted
average concentrations of pollutants in the environment to be determined, but also facilitate assessments of the risks these
chemicals pose to the environment. 相似文献
7.
Kilanowicz A Daragó A Skrzypińska-Gawrysiak M 《International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health》2012,25(2):185-195
Objectives
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), like other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), are widespread, global environmental contaminants. These compounds still represent a great environmental problem, mostly because of the risk of secondary air pollution. They are characterized by long durability and tendency to bioaccumulate, which means that they are practically ubiquitous in all environmental media and ecosystems. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and excretion of hexachloronaphthalene (HxCN) in rats following a single intraperitoneal or intragastrical administration. 相似文献8.
Kim MJ Marchand P Henegar C Antignac JP Alili R Poitou C Bouillot JL Basdevant A Le Bizec B Barouki R Clément K 《Environmental health perspectives》2011,119(3):377-383
Background
In humans, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are stored primarily in adipose tissue. Their total body burden and their contribution to obesity-associated diseases remain unclear.Objectives
We characterized POP total body burden and their redistribution in obese individuals before and after drastic weight loss and compared these values with a variety of molecular, biological, and clinical parameters.Methods
Seventy-one obese subjects were enrolled and underwent bariatric surgery. Blood and adipose tissue samples were obtained at different times from these individuals as well as from 18 lean women.Results
POP content (17 dioxins/furans and 18 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners) in different adipose tissue territories was similar, allowing us to assess total POP body burden from a single biopsy. Total POP body burden was 2 to 3 times higher in obese than in lean individuals. We also found increased expression of some POP target genes in obese adipose tissue. Drastic weight loss led to increased serum POPs and, within 6–12 months, to a significant 15% decrease in total polychlorinated biphenyl body burden. Importantly, serum POP levels were positively correlated with liver toxicity markers and lipid parameters, independently of age and body mass index.Conclusions
POP content in adipose tissue and serum correlate with biological markers of obesity-related dysfunctions. Drastic weight loss leads to a redistribution of POPs and to a moderate decrease of their total body burden. 相似文献9.
10.
Tanja Krüger Mandana Ghisari Philip S Hjelmborg Bente Deutch Eva C Bonefeld-Jorgensen 《Environmental health : a global access science source》2008,7(1):1-15
Background
The persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are highly lipophilic and resistant to biodegradation and found in e.g. seafood and marine mammals. Greenlandic Inuit have high intake of marine food and thus high POP burden that varies according to local conditions and dietary preference. We do for the very first time report the serum POP related non-steroidal xenohormone activity of Inuit across Greenland. The aims were 1) to determine the integrated xenohormone bioactivities as an exposure biomarker of the actual lipophilic serum POP mixture measuring the effect on estrogen (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) transactivity in citizens from different Greenlandic districts and 2) to evaluate associations to serum POP markers (14 PCBs and 10 pesticides) and lifestyle characteristics.Methods
Serum samples from 121 men and 119 women from Nuuk, Sisimiut and Qaanaaq were extracted using SPE-HPLC fractionation to obtain the serum POP fraction free of endogenous hormones. The serum POP fraction was used for determination of xenohormone transactivity using ER and AR reporter gene assays.Results
In overall, the xenohormone transactivities differed between districts as well as between the genders. Associations between the transactivities and age, n-3/n-6 and smoker years were observed. The xenoestrogenic and xenoandrogenic transactivities correlated negatively to the POPs for the combined female and male data, respectively.Conclusion
The non-steroidal xenohormone transactivities can be used as an integrated biomarker of POP exposure and lifestyle characteristics. The actual serum POP mixtures antagonized the age adjusted sex hormone receptor functions. Comparison of different study populations requires in addition to age inclusion of diet and lifestyle factors. 相似文献11.
Eva C Bonefeld-Jorgensen Manhai Long Rossana Bossi Pierre Ayotte Gert Asmund Tanja Krüger Mandana Ghisari Gert Mulvad Peder Kern Peter Nzulumiki Eric Dewailly 《Environmental health : a global access science source》2011,10(1):1-16
Background
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer for women in the western world. From very few cases an extraordinary increase in BC was observed in the Inuit population of Greenland and Canada although still lower than in western populations. Previous data suggest that exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) might contribute to the risk of BC. Rat studies showed that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) cause significantly increase in mammary fibroadenomas. This study aimed at evaluating the association between serum levels of POPs/PFCs in Greenlandic Inuit BC cases and their controls, and whether the combined POP related effect on nuclear hormone receptors affect BC risk.Methods
Thirty-one BC cases and 115 controls were sampled during 2000-2003 from various Greenlandic districts. The serum levels of POPs, PFCs, some metals and the combined serum POP related effect on estrogen- (ER), androgen- (AR) and Ah-receptor (AhR) transactivity were determined. Independent student t-test was used to compare the differences and the odds ratios were estimated by unconditional logistic regression models.Results
We observed for the very first time a significant association between serum PFC levels and the risk of BC. The BC cases also showed a significantly higher concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls at the highest quartile. Also for the combined serum POP induced agonistic AR transactivity significant association to BC risk was found, and cases elicited a higher frequency of samples with significant POP related hormone-like agonistic ER transactivity. The AhR toxic equivalent was lowest in cases.Conclusions
The level of serum POPs, particularly PFCs, might be risk factors in the development of BC in Inuit. Hormone disruption by the combined serum POP related xenoestrogenic and xenoandrogenic activities may contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer in Inuit. Further investigations are needed to document these study conclusions. 相似文献12.
Iannuzzi J Butcher M Iannuzzi T 《Environmental toxicology and chemistry / SETAC》2011,30(7):1721-1728
The lower Passaic River, New Jersey, USA, a tidal tributary to Newark Bay and part of the New York and New Jersey Harbor Estuary, is contaminated with a variety of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) due to nearly two centuries of heavy industrialization and urbanization. Resident aquatic organisms are exposed to, and can bioaccumulate, a variety of chemical contaminants from sediments, water and other organisms. In the present study, the relationships between selected POPs detected in both surface sediments and aquatic organisms are examined statistically along with the efficacy of using empirical biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) to describe such relationships. Regression analyses were conducted on synoptic surface sediment POP data (0 to 15 cm in depth) and whole-body tissue POP data for three prominent organisms that reside in the river and which are important components of the food web: mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), and white perch (Morone americana). Per the equilibrium partitioning theory on which the BSAF model is based, surface sediment data were normalized to total organic carbon and tissue data were normalized to lipid content for each organism. Normalized surface sediment concentrations were generally poorly correlated with normalized biota tissue concentrations. The BSAF model was not found to be a reliable means to predict concentrations of POPs in select lower Passaic River organisms, using surface sediment chemistry data. 相似文献
13.
Contamination by Persistent Organic Pollutants in Dumping Sites of Asian Developing Countries: Implication of Emerging Pollution Sources 总被引:6,自引:0,他引:6
Minh NH Minh TB Kajiwara N Kunisue T Subramanian A Iwata H Tana TS Baburajendran R Karuppiah S Viet PH Tuyen BC Tanabe S 《Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology》2006,50(4):474-481
In Asian developing countries, large amounts of municipal wastes are dumped daily in open dumping sites without proper management.
This practice may cause several adverse environmental consequences and increased health risk to local communities. To elucidate
contamination by persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—including dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs),
hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)—in such dumping sites,
soil samples were collected from open dumping sites and respective control sites in Cambodia, India, and Vietnam from 1999
through 2001. Our results demonstrated that DDTs, PCBs, and HCHs were dominant contaminants in the dumping sites. However,
the contamination pattern was not consistent, showing higher HCHs in India than in Cambodia and Vietnam. Interestingly, in
all of the countries, extremely higher levels of POPs were observed in the dumping sites compared with those in the respective
control sites, suggesting significant amplification of POP contamination in the dumping sites of Asian developing countries.
Mean concentrations of DDTs and PCBs were 350 and 140 ng/g dry weight, respectively, in the dumping sites of Cambodia and
26 and 210 ng/g, respectively, in India. These residue levels were hundreds to thousands times higher than those in general
soils, implying possible risk to human health of the local communities, especially to the rag pickers, including children
who work in these sites to collect recyclable materials. Composition of DDT compounds suggested their recent use in populated
areas, which in turn might have caused increased levels of DDTs in the open dumping sites. In addition, composition of HCH
isomers revealed their different use pattern in different countries. 相似文献
14.
Jonathan I Levy Lisa K Baxter Jane E Clougherty 《Environmental health : a global access science source》2006,5(1):1-12
Background
Human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is ubiquitous and found in all individuals. Studies have documented endocrine disrupting effects and impact on reproduction. The aim of the present study was to compare the level of xenoestrogenic activity in serum of groups with varying POP exposure, and to evaluate correlations to the POP biomarkers, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE).Methods
The study included 358 men: Greenlandic Inuit's, Swedish fishermen, and Warsaw (Poland) and Kharkiv (Ukraine) inhabitants. Xenoestrogenicity of serum extracts alone (XER) and XER competitive (XERcomp) effect on 17β-estradiol induced estrogen receptor (ER) transactivity were assessed in the hormone free, lipophilic serum fraction containing the POPs using the MVLN human breast cancer cell line.Results
No agonistic XER activity was exhibited for Inuit serum samples, while 12 – 24% of the European samples had detectable agonistic XER activity. On the contrary, 71% of Inuit serum samples antagonized XERcomp compared to 7 – 30 % in the other regions. XER and XERcomp were not or weakly correlated to the two POP markers. XER activity of Inuit samples was negatively associated to levels of CB-153 and p,p'-DDE. For the Warsaw group a positive and negative correlation between XER and p,p'-DDE and estradiol equivalence level and CB-153 levels was found.Conclusion
No strong consistent association between xenoestrogenic net activity and the two POP markers was found. The results showed that the selected POP markers alone can not predict the integrated xenoestrogenic serum activity. Correlations to the POP markers were found at the extreme edge; the Inuit's and Warsaw study groups eliciting high frequency of samples with ER antagonistic and agonistic activity, respectively. We suggest that the variation in xenoestrogenic serum activity reflects differences in POP exposure mixture, genetic factors and/or life style factors. 相似文献15.
Therese Haugdahl Nøst Torkjel Manning Sandanger Evert Nieboer Jon Øyvind Odland Knut Breivik 《International journal of hygiene and environmental health》2017,220(4):776-781
Background
In this short communication, our focus is on the relationship between human concentrations of select persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and environmental emissions. It is based on a longitudinal study (1979–2007) conducted in Norway.Objectives
Our aim was to extract general insights from observed and predicted temporal trends in human concentrations of 49 POPs to assist in the design and interpretation of future monitoring studies.Discussion
Despite considerable decline for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) since 1986, the sum of the targeted POPs increased from 1979 until 2001, with per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) dominating recent blood burden measurements. Specifically, the time trends in serum concentrations of POPs, exemplified by PCB-153, 1,1′-(2,2,2-Trichloroethane-1,1-diyl)bis(4-chlorobenzene) (DDT) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), resembled the trends in available data on their emissions, production or use. These observations suggest that interpretations of human biomonitoring data on persistent compounds must consider historic emissions, which likely vary spatially across the globe. Based on the different temporal trends observed across POP groups, it is evident that generalizations regarding temporal aspects have limitations.Conclusion
The discussion herein underscores the importance of understanding temporal variations in environmental emissions when designing and interpreting human biomonitoring studies. 相似文献16.
Esther Vizcaino Joan O. Grimalt Berit Glomstad Ana Fernández-Somoano Adonina Tardón 《Environmental health perspectives》2014,122(8):873-879
Background: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during fetal development can increase the risk of adverse health effects during childhood. Maternal characteristics and physiological changes during gestation, such as gestational weight gain (GWG), may have an influence in the overall burden of POPs in neonates. However, the associations between GWG and POP concentrations are still not well established.Objective: We examined the association of GWG with cord serum POPs concentrations after adjusting for prepregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) and other potential determinants of the transfer of POPs into newborns. The GWG values were evaluated after grouping by the reference guidelines of the Institute of Medicine (IOM).Methods: We measured levels of 14 organochlorine pesticides, 7 polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), and 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in 325 cord serum samples from a Spanish birth cohort. Multivariable models were used to estimate associations of GWG, prepregnancy BMI, and other maternal determinants on cord serum concentrations of POPs.Results: Neonatal concentrations of POPs were inversely associated with GWG after adjustment for age, prepregnancy BMI, educational level, and fish consumption. On average, neonates of women with IOM-recommended GWG have lower POP concentrations than do neonates of mothers with inadequate GWG.Conclusions: The present findings suggest an association between neonatal exposure to POPs and inadequate GWG during pregnancy. Encouraging pregnant women to meet the recommended IOM guidelines for GWG may reduce the accumulation of POPs in newborns.Citation: Vizcaino E, Grimalt JO, Glomstad B, Fernández-Somoano A, Tardón A. 2014. Gestational weight gain and exposure of newborns to persistent organic pollutants. Environ Health Perspect 122:873–879; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306758 相似文献
17.
Morris RD Cole D 《Canadian journal of public health. Revue canadienne de santé publique》2002,93(Z1):S39-S44
The relationship between the health of human populations and the state of the ecosystems in which they live is profoundly complex. As most environmental indicators relevant to human health depend on evidence of a direct cause and effect relationship, there are few indicators of the less direct consequences of environmental degradation on human health. Indicators of the direct consequence of contaminants in freshwater ecosystems on human health are highlighted in this paper and candidate indicators for environmental health are provided. Many of the indicators included here are from the State Of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) program. SOLEC conferences in the past (1994 and 1996) examined the state of various components of the ecosystem through the use of ad hoc indicators, and provided subjective assessments of certain environmental conditions. At SOLEC 98, a comprehensive suite of 80 Great Lakes ecosystem health indicators was presented for review, refinement and acceptance. Candidate indicators for freshwater systems and environmental health presented here are organized following the "Pressure-State-Response" framework and cover the areas of drinking water, recreational water, freshwater food sources, and the availability of freshwater for economic activities. 相似文献
18.
Kalender Arıkan Zeynep Yaşar Arıkan Salih Levent Turan 《Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology》2018,100(3):361-368
The residues of persistent organochlorinated pollutants (POPs), namely polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) (HCHs, CHLs, HCCPs, DDTs, and dicofol congeners) were investigated in the hair and muscle of road-killed Erinaceus roumanicus and E. concolor in Turkey. Mean residue levels were as follows: in hair, PCBs?=?7.43?±?4.88 ng/g and OCPs?=?9.21?±?1.27 ng/g; in muscle, PCBs?=?30.73?±?2.51 ng/g and OCPs?=?145.04?±?16.59 ng/g. There was no significant difference between species and sex, while there was significant difference between habitats and regions in terms of either total PCB and OCP levels, or POP levels (p?<?0.05). Age was a determinative factor for the bio-accumulation of POPs. The contaminant levels were high in the species, sample areas, and habitats. The data also showed that tissues of hedgehogs are suitable for monitoring and evaluating the bioaccumulation of POP levels in Turkey. 相似文献
19.
Jennifer A. Rusiecki Andrea Baccarelli Valentina Bollati Letizia Tarantini Lee E. Moore Eva C. Bonefeld-Jorgensen 《Environmental health perspectives》2008,116(11):1547-1552
Background
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may influence epigenetic mechanisms; therefore, they could affect chromosomal stability and gene expression. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism, has been associated with cancer initiation and progression. Greenlandic Inuit have some of the highest reported POP levels worldwide.Objective
Our aim in this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma POPs concentrations and global DNA methylation (percent 5-methylcytosine) in DNA extracted from blood samples from 70 Greenlandic Inuit. Blood samples were collected under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program and previously analyzed for a battery of POPs.Methods
We used pyrosequencing to estimate global DNA methylation via Alu and LINE-1 assays of bisulfite-treated DNA. We investigated correlations between plasma POP concentrations and global DNA methylation via correlation coefficients and linear regression analyses.Results
We found inverse correlations between percents methylcytosine and many of the POP concentrations measured. Linear regressions, adjusting for age and cigarette smoking, showed statistically significant inverse linear relationships mainly for the Alu assay for p,p′-DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane; β = −0.26), p,p′-DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene; β = −0.38], β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β = −0.48), oxychlordane (β = −0.32), α-chlordane (β = −0.75), mirex (β = −0.27), sum of polychlorinated biphenyls (β = −0.56), and sum of all POPs (β = −0.48). Linear regressions for the LINE-1 assay showed β estimates of similar magnitudes to those using the Alu assay, however, none was statistically significant.Conclusions
This is the first study to investigate environmental exposure to POPs and DNA methylation levels in a human population. Global methylation levels were inversely associated with blood plasma levels for several POPs and merit further investigation. 相似文献20.
Bonde JP Toft G Rylander L Rignell-Hydbom A Giwercman A Spano M Manicardi GC Bizzaro D Ludwicki JK Zvyezday V Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC Pedersen HS Jönsson BA Thulstrup AM;INUENDO 《Environmental health perspectives》2008,116(3):269-277
OBJECTIVE: We synthesized the main findings from an international epidemiologic study on the impact of biopersistent organic pollutants (POPs) on human reproductive function. DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION: We used a database with interview and biological data from 2,269 women and their spouses, and 18 published core papers. DATA SYNTHESIS: The study did not provide direct evidence of hormone-like activity of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener CB-153 and the main dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) metabolite, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), as serum concentrations of these compounds were not consistently related to either endogenous or exogenous hormone activity in serum. Nevertheless several links bewteen POP exposure and biomarkers of male reproductive function were identified. First, an association between high CB-153 serum levels and low sperm counts was detected within a subgroup of men with short androgen receptor CAG repeat length. Second, a relationship between increased CB-153 serum concentrations and decreased sperm motility was seen in all four studied regions, and indications of reduced neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma point to a post-testicular effect. Third, damage of sperm chromatin integrity was considerably less frequent in Greenlandic Inuits compared with that in European groups, and only in the latter was impairment of sperm chromatin integrity related to POPs. Despite these effects, fertility in terms of time taken to conceive was not related to POPs except in Inuits. A likely explanation of the latter was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: POPs may interfere with male reproductive function without major impact on fertility. The data do not provide direct evidence for endocrine disruption, hence other mechanisms should also be considered. 相似文献