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2002 Progress Report: Dioxins, Male Pubertal Development and Testis Function

EPA Grant Number: R829437
Title: Dioxins, Male Pubertal Development and Testis Function
Investigators: Hauser, Russ , Korrick, Susan , Lasley, Bill L. , Lee, Mary , Overstreet, James W. , Revich, Boris , Sergeyev, Oleg , Williams, Paige L. , Zeilert, Vladamir
Current Investigators: Hauser, Russ , Korrick, Susan , Lee, Mary , Revich, Boris , Sergeyev, Oleg , Williams, Paige L. , Zeilert, Vladamir
Institution: Harvard School of Public Health , Duke University Medical Center , University of California - Davis
Current Institution: Harvard School of Public Health
EPA Project Officer: Glenn, Barbara
Project Period: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2005 (Extended to February 3, 2008)
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2002
Project Amount: $2,252,427
RFA: Endocrine Disruptors: Epidemiologic Approaches (2001)
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors

Description:

Objective:

The objective of the project is to determine whether exposure to dioxins, a byproduct of industrial processes and an environmental contaminant, is associated with altered growth and sexual maturation in boys. Specific objectives include exploring whether physical growth is delayed and stunted, whether sexual maturation is delayed, and whether reproductive hormones are altered. Dioxin levels will be measured in blood samples drawn from the boys and their mothers. Yearly physical examinations will be performed to assess growth velocity, and onset and tempo of sexual maturation. Questionnaire data will be collected on birth and medical history, as well as lifestyle factors. Statistical modeling will be used to explore the relationship between serum levels of dioxin and altered physical growth and sexual maturation.

Progress Summary:

Our accomplishments for Year 1 of the project are summarized as follows:

· During the previous year, the computer database that will be used for data collection was designed and field-tested with our Russian collaborators. The database will contain several hundred variables, including questions on diet, birth history, medical history, and lifestyle factors of the child and his parents. The nurse interviewing the boys and their mothers will enter the data directly into the computer, avoiding delays caused by manual data entry, as well as reducing the potential for data entry errors.

· We ordered and shipped supplies and equipment for recruitment and testing of 1,000 boys and their mothers. This process involved detailed paperwork and customs approval in Russia. Following September 11, 2001, the amount of paperwork and preparatory work necessary to ship overseas has increased dramatically. Because of this, we experienced a delay in securing customs approval. Therefore, there was a slight delay in the beginning of recruitment, which now will begin in the winter of 2003.

Future Activities:

Recruitment of 1,000 boys, age 9 years old, into a prospective cohort study will be undertaken. All boys will undergo a physical exam, have blood drawn, provide a urine sample, and complete a detailed questionnaire with their mothers. The mothers also will have blood drawn. We then will follow these boys yearly until age 18 years old when we can assess reproductive fitness.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 8 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

adolescents, children, dioxins, dioxin exposure, growth, maturation, sexual maturation, male pubertal development, testis function. , Toxics, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Biology, Risk Assessments, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, endocrine disruptors, Children's Health, Biochemistry, pesticides, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, cell-cell interactions, endocrine disrupting chemicals, puberty, sexual development, EDCs, chemical interference, developmental biology, human growth and development, human health risk, fetal development, gonad morphology, embryonic development, neurotropin growth, sertoli cells, testis development, paracine growth factors, male fertility, dioxin, postnatal development, male sexual development, hypospadias, exposure, human exposure, physiology

Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
2003 Progress Report
2004 Progress Report
2005 Progress Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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