ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SERUM LEVELS OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES AND SEX HORMONES IN ADULTS LIVING IN A HEAVILY CONTAMINATED AREA IN BRAZIL

Background: Several studies have investigated the effects of organochlorine (OC) pesticides on adverse reproductive outcomes. However, few previous studies explored their effects on sex hormones. Aims: To examine the association between sex hormone levels and serum concentrations of OC pesticides in adults living in a rural area in Brazil heavily contaminated with these chemicals since the early 1960’s. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 304 men and 300 women was undertaken. Wet weight serum concentrations of 19 OC pesticides were determined in all participants, while testosterone serum levels were obtained for men and estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were obtained for women. Associations between OC pesticides and sex hormones were evaluated using linear regression models. Results: Prevalence of women with non-physiological hyperprolactinemia was 4.0%. After adjusting for serum lipids and confounders, decreased testosterone levels in me...