Cargando…

Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture

Background: Liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing involves three fabrication processes: array, panel and module processes, which result in different levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the potential reproductive endocrine effects of occupation...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Lin, Ching-Chun, Huang, Chia-Ni, Wang, Jung-Der, Hwang, Yaw-Huei, Shie, Ruei-Hao, Chang, Yu-Yin, Weng, Shao-Ping, Chen, Pau-Chung
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709325/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23552809
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10041406
_version_ 1782276736644284416
author Lin, Ching-Chun
Huang, Chia-Ni
Wang, Jung-Der
Hwang, Yaw-Huei
Shie, Ruei-Hao
Chang, Yu-Yin
Weng, Shao-Ping
Chen, Pau-Chung
author_facet Lin, Ching-Chun
Huang, Chia-Ni
Wang, Jung-Der
Hwang, Yaw-Huei
Shie, Ruei-Hao
Chang, Yu-Yin
Weng, Shao-Ping
Chen, Pau-Chung
author_sort Lin, Ching-Chun
collection PubMed
description Background: Liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing involves three fabrication processes: array, panel and module processes, which result in different levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the potential reproductive endocrine effects of occupational exposures during LCD manufacturing predictive of menstrual cycles as subclinical markers of female reproductive dysfunction effects of low-dose exposures. Methods: A total of 94 fabrication workers were followed for one complete menstrual cycle using daily urine samples: 23 were from the array, 53 from the panel, and 18 from the module work areas. The menstrual cycle characteristics of the study population were measured using a self-administered questionnaire. Urine samples were collected during the first urination in the morning for at least one complete menstrual cycle. The urine was then analyzed to determine the urinary concentrations of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), estrone conjugates (E1C), and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG). The results of this analysis were used to assess the potential effects of chemical exposure as determined by handheld volatile organic compound (VOC) monitors and 24 h canisters. Results: The concentration of total VOCs was much higher in the module making area (ND–21,000 ppb) than in panel (ND–766 ppb) and array (58–1,472 ppb) making areas. The concentrations of ethanol and acetone were much higher in the module (1,974.9 and 2,283.2 ppb, respectively) and panel (2256.9 and 592.2 ppb, respectively) making areas. Compared to those in the array making area, we found that E1C (12.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.49, 16.61 μg/mg Cr) and PdG (0.53, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.77 μg/mg Cr) levels in the module group were significantly higher in the early follicular phase; E1C (11.93, 95% CI: 6.21, 17.65 μg/mg Cr) and PdG (0.53, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.77 μg/mg Cr) levels were significantly higher in the periovulatory phase; and all the hormone levels, FSH (1.48, 95% CI: 0.81, 2.15 μg/mg Cr), E1C (9.29, 95% CI: 4.92, 13.66 μg/mg Cr), and PdG (1.01, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.60 μg/mg Cr) were also significantly higher in the luteal phase. In addition, the FSH (0.89, 95% CI: 0.07, 1.71 μg/mg Cr) level in the panel group was significantly higher but E1C (−4.49, 95% CI: −7.90, −1.08 μg/mg Cr) was lower in the early follicular phase; and E1C (−5.16, 95% CI: −9.61, −0.71 μg/mg Cr) level was significantly lower in the periovulatory phase. Conclusions: Our findings add to the evidence that exposure to multiple low-level chemicals is associated with modest changes in reproductive hormone urinary concentrations in healthy premenopausal women. In addition, the FSH (0.89, 95% CI: 0.07, 1.71 μg/mg Cr) level in the panel group was significantly higher but E1C (−4.49, 95% CI: −7.90, −1.08 μg/mg Cr) lower in the early follicular phase; and E1C (−5.16, 95% CI: −9.61, −0.71 μg/mg Cr) level was significantly lower in the periovulatory phase.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-3709325
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2013
publisher MDPI
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-37093252013-07-12 Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture Lin, Ching-Chun Huang, Chia-Ni Wang, Jung-Der Hwang, Yaw-Huei Shie, Ruei-Hao Chang, Yu-Yin Weng, Shao-Ping Chen, Pau-Chung Int J Environ Res Public Health Article Background: Liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing involves three fabrication processes: array, panel and module processes, which result in different levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the potential reproductive endocrine effects of occupational exposures during LCD manufacturing predictive of menstrual cycles as subclinical markers of female reproductive dysfunction effects of low-dose exposures. Methods: A total of 94 fabrication workers were followed for one complete menstrual cycle using daily urine samples: 23 were from the array, 53 from the panel, and 18 from the module work areas. The menstrual cycle characteristics of the study population were measured using a self-administered questionnaire. Urine samples were collected during the first urination in the morning for at least one complete menstrual cycle. The urine was then analyzed to determine the urinary concentrations of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), estrone conjugates (E1C), and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG). The results of this analysis were used to assess the potential effects of chemical exposure as determined by handheld volatile organic compound (VOC) monitors and 24 h canisters. Results: The concentration of total VOCs was much higher in the module making area (ND–21,000 ppb) than in panel (ND–766 ppb) and array (58–1,472 ppb) making areas. The concentrations of ethanol and acetone were much higher in the module (1,974.9 and 2,283.2 ppb, respectively) and panel (2256.9 and 592.2 ppb, respectively) making areas. Compared to those in the array making area, we found that E1C (12.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.49, 16.61 μg/mg Cr) and PdG (0.53, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.77 μg/mg Cr) levels in the module group were significantly higher in the early follicular phase; E1C (11.93, 95% CI: 6.21, 17.65 μg/mg Cr) and PdG (0.53, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.77 μg/mg Cr) levels were significantly higher in the periovulatory phase; and all the hormone levels, FSH (1.48, 95% CI: 0.81, 2.15 μg/mg Cr), E1C (9.29, 95% CI: 4.92, 13.66 μg/mg Cr), and PdG (1.01, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.60 μg/mg Cr) were also significantly higher in the luteal phase. In addition, the FSH (0.89, 95% CI: 0.07, 1.71 μg/mg Cr) level in the panel group was significantly higher but E1C (−4.49, 95% CI: −7.90, −1.08 μg/mg Cr) was lower in the early follicular phase; and E1C (−5.16, 95% CI: −9.61, −0.71 μg/mg Cr) level was significantly lower in the periovulatory phase. Conclusions: Our findings add to the evidence that exposure to multiple low-level chemicals is associated with modest changes in reproductive hormone urinary concentrations in healthy premenopausal women. In addition, the FSH (0.89, 95% CI: 0.07, 1.71 μg/mg Cr) level in the panel group was significantly higher but E1C (−4.49, 95% CI: −7.90, −1.08 μg/mg Cr) lower in the early follicular phase; and E1C (−5.16, 95% CI: −9.61, −0.71 μg/mg Cr) level was significantly lower in the periovulatory phase. MDPI 2013-04-03 2013-04 /pmc/articles/PMC3709325/ /pubmed/23552809 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10041406 Text en © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
spellingShingle Article
Lin, Ching-Chun
Huang, Chia-Ni
Wang, Jung-Der
Hwang, Yaw-Huei
Shie, Ruei-Hao
Chang, Yu-Yin
Weng, Shao-Ping
Chen, Pau-Chung
Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture
title Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture
title_full Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture
title_fullStr Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture
title_full_unstemmed Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture
title_short Exposure to Multiple Low-Level Chemicals in Relation to Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Women Involved in Liquid Crystal Display Manufacture
title_sort exposure to multiple low-level chemicals in relation to reproductive hormones in premenopausal women involved in liquid crystal display manufacture
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709325/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23552809
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10041406
work_keys_str_mv AT linchingchun exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture
AT huangchiani exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture
AT wangjungder exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture
AT hwangyawhuei exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture
AT shierueihao exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture
AT changyuyin exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture
AT wengshaoping exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture
AT chenpauchung exposuretomultiplelowlevelchemicalsinrelationtoreproductivehormonesinpremenopausalwomeninvolvedinliquidcrystaldisplaymanufacture