Exposure to traffic pollutants and effects on 17-beta-estradiol (E2) in female workers
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether the occupational exposure to urban pollutants including endocrine disruptors (EDs) could cause alterations in plasma 17-beta-estradiol (E2) levels and related diseases (adverse pregnancy outcome and mental health disorders) in female traffic police compared to a control group.
METHODS: After excluding the subjects with the principal confounding factors, traffic police and controls were matched by age, years of police work, age of menarche, menstrual cycle day, body mass index (BMI), drinking habit, cigarette smoking habit, habitual intake of soy or liquorice in diet and habitual consumption of Italian coffee. Thirty-seven traffic police and 31 controls (seventh day; follicular phase of the ovarian cycle); 38 traffic police and 42 controls (14th day; ovulatory phase of the ovarian cycle); and 25 traffic police and 28 controls (21st day; lutheal phase of the ovarian cycle) were included in the study and then matched for the above-mentioned variables.
RESULTS: In follicular and in lutheal phases, mean E2 levels were significantly lower in traffic police compared to controls. The distribution of E2 values in traffic police and controls was significant in follicular, ovulatory and lutheal phases. In ovulatory phase, mean E2 levels were lower but not significant in traffic police compared to controls. An increase was found concerning mental health disorders referred to in the questionnaire items in traffic police compared to…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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