Disruption of sex hormones and oxidative homeostasis in parturient women and their matching fetuses at an e-waste recycling site in China

作者：Zhou Xue; Ju Ying; Wu Zhigang; Yang Kedi^*

来源：International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2013, 19(1): 22-28.

DOI：10.1179/2049396712Y.0000000017

• E-waste
• Sex hormone
• Oxidative stress
• Prenatal exposure

Background: Electronic waste (e-waste) disposal poses a major health concern in developing countries.
Objectives: We investigated whether prenatal exposure to e-waste pollutants affects sex hormones and oxidative status.
Methods: Parturient women living in an e-waste recycling site (exposed subjects, n=46) and a reference site (referents, n=44) were recruited.
Results: Compared with referents, the levels of sex hormones estradiol and progesterone were significantly elevated in exposed subjects (P<0.05); a significant increase in the mRNA levels of estrogen receptor alpha and beta, and a significant decrease in the mRNA levels of progesterone receptor were detected in exposed subjects (P<0.05); a significant increase in malondialdehyde, and suppression of the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05) were observed in exposed subjects.
Conclusions: Our results revealed that sex hormones and oxidative homeostasis were disrupted in pregnant women and their fetuses at the e-waste recycling site.

• 出版日期2013-3
• 单位华中科技大学