Association of placenta organotin concentrations with growth and ponderal index in 110 newborn boys from Finland during the first 18 months of life: a cohort study.

Panu Rantakokko,Helena E Virtanen,Christine Wohlfart-Veje,Riikka Airaksinen,Terttu Vartiainen,Hannu Kiviranta,Katharina M Main,Niels E Skakkebæk,Jorma Toppari

doi:10.1186/1476-069x-13-45

Panu Rantakokko, Helena E Virtanen + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069x-13-45

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Abstract

BackgroundHumans are exposed to tributyltin (TBT), previously used as an antifouling paint in ships, mainly through fish consumption. As TBT is a known obesogen, we studied the association of placenta TBT and other organotin compounds (OTCs) with ponderal index (PI) and growth during the first 18 months of life in boys.MethodsIn a prospective Finnish study, 110 placenta samples were collected from mothers of boys born in 1997–1999 with (n = 55) and without (n = 55) cryptorchidism. To account for the original study design, linear regression, weighted for sampling fractions of boys with (121/55) and without (5677/55) cryptorchidism from the total cohort, was used to study the association between placenta OTCs and children’s weight, length, growth rates and PI up to 18 months of age.ResultsPlacenta TBT concentrations were above the limit of quantification (LOQ) in 99% of the samples. However, monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT) concentrations were below LOQ in 90%, 35% and 57% of samples, respectively. Placenta TBT was positively associated (p = 0.024) with weight gain during the first three months of life, but no other significant associations were observed for weight or length gain. Also, no significant associations between placenta OTC concentrations and child length, weight or PI at any time point were found.ConclusionsWe observed a trend towards higher weight gain from birth to 3 months of age with increasing placenta TBT concentration. These results should be interpreted with caution because obesogenic effects in animal experiments were seen after in-utero TBT exposures to doses that were orders of magnitude higher. Also the number of study subjects included in this study was limited.

Highlights

Humans are exposed to tributyltin (TBT), previously used as an antifouling paint in ships, mainly through fish consumption
Concentrations of organotin compounds (OTCs) were below limit of quantification (LOQ) in a large proportion of samples, especially those of MBT (90%), TPhT (57%) and DBT (35%)
OTCs and weight and length gain from 0 to 3 months and from 3 to 18 months Placenta TBT had a significant positive association (p = 0.024) with weight gain from birth to three months when comparing the third category to the first category, and similar associations of borderline statistical significance were observed for DBT and the sum of OTCs (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Humans are exposed to tributyltin (TBT), previously used as an antifouling paint in ships, mainly through fish consumption. The organotin compounds (OTCs) tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT) have strong biocidal activity and have been used e.g. in antifouling paints in boats and ships. The detrimental effects following antifouling use of TBT, and TPhT are of most environmental concern and have been extensively reviewed by Graceli et al [2]. Due to the detrimental environmental effects their use in antifouling [3] and agricultural applications [4] has been banned in Europe. Fish is considered to be the main source of TBT and TPhT exposure [6,7]. PVC plastics, e.g. vinyl blinds, vinyl sidings and wallpaper, may contain large amounts of OTCs and could be a significant source of butyltin and octyltin exposure for children through direct dermal contact and dust ingestion and inhalation [8,9]

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