Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and other parental factors in hypospadias and cryptorchidism etiology

• Published in: Cirugía pediátrica Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 128 - 132
• Main Authors: Estors Sastre, B, Bragagnini Rodríguez, P, Fernández Atuan, R, Delgado Alvira, R, Rihuete Heras, M A, Gracia Romero, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 20-07-2015
• Subjects: Endocrine disruptors; Cryptorchidism; Hipospadias
• ISSN: 0214-1221

To investigate the association between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) exposure and other paternal factors in the etiology of hipospadias and cryptorchidism.
A case-control study. Cases were infants between 0 and 6 years of age diagnosed with hypospadias or cryptorchidism in our pediatric urology and general pediatric surgery services during a period of 6 months, and controls were infants with the same range of age attending the same services without any urological problem. Several variables were collected by face-to-face interviews with both parents. After data abstraction, we compared the characteristics of both groups using parametric statistical tests.
A total of 180 patients were studied, 90 cases (45 hypospadias/45 cryptorchidism) and 90 controls with a mean age of 2,37 ± 1.50 years [range 0,5-6]. Median of mother´s age was significantly greater in case group (34,40 ± 5,64 versus 31,74 ± 5,05; p= 0,001). Significant differences were observed between cases and controls in regard to maternal occupational exposure to EDC (mainly phthalates), adjusted Odds ratio (OR) was 3.67 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28-10.51; p= 0,018] and regarding the paternal occupational exposure to EDC (mainly pesticides and herbicides), adjusted OR was 6.65 [95% CI: 2.60-17.02; p= 0,001]. Increased risk was also observed in smoking fathers and fathers who drink alcohol, adjusted Odds ratio were 2.36 [95% CI: 1.11.
This study represents a little contribution to the possible etiologic factors of hypospadias and cryptorchidism, further studies with higher statistical power would be needed to prove it.