Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Associated Disorders and Mechanisms of Action

Table 6

Some cross-sectional epidemiological studies on metabolic syndrome.

Exposure	Study population	Relative risk or odds ratio (95% confidence interval)	Main strengths	Main limitations	Reference
Polybromobiphenyl-153	367 Adults participating in NHANES 2003-2004	OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to “non detectable”: 3.1 (1.4–6.9) 𝑃trend<0.01	Precise measurement of personal internal exposure. Adequate control of confounding. 237 cases	Only 18 cases in referent category	[199]
PBDE-153		OR for second quartile^a of serum concentration compared to “non detectable”: 2.5 (1.1–5.6). 𝑃trend=0.02^a		4 other PBDEs did not show a significant association
Cumulative measure^b of PCDDs		OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 1.3 (0.7–2.5) 𝑃trend=0.35
Cumulative measure^b of PCDFs		OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 1.6 (0.9–2.8). 𝑃trend=0.11
Cumulative measure^b of Dioxin-like PCBs	721 Nondiabetic participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002 aged ≥ 20 years	OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 2.1 (1.0–4.3). 𝑃trend=0.01	Precise measurement of personal internal exposure. Adequate control of confounding^c. 175 cases	Positive pairwise correlations between the different classes of pops	[224]
Cumulative measure^b of non-dioxin-like PCBs		OR for third quartile^a of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 1.8 (1.0–3.4) 𝑃trend<0.01^a
Cumulative measure^b of organoclorine pesticides		OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 5.3 (2.5–11.3). 𝑃trend<0.01
PCDDs	1,374 subjects not occupationally exposed to these pollutants, living throughout Japan during 2002–2006	OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 3.2 (1.6–6.7). 𝑃trend<0.01	Precise measurement of personal internal exposure Adequate control of confounding	Use of BMI instead of waist circumference and of glycated haemoglobin instead of serum glucose	[225]
PCDfs		OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 4.4 (2.0–11). 𝑃trend=0.04
Dioxin-like PCBs		OR for highest quartile of serum concentration compared to lowest quartile: 4.8 (2.2–11). 𝑃trend<0.01

^aAn inverted U-shaped association was observed, and the 𝑃 value for quadratic term is shown.
^bTo yield a cumulative measure of pops belonging to a specific class, such as PCDDs or organochlorine pesticides, the ranks of the individual pops were summed. The summary values were categorised by cut-off points of 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile values.
^cAdjusted for age, sex, race, poverty income ratio, cigarette smoking, serum cotinine, alcohol consumption, and exercise.