Persistent organochlorines (POCs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
and DDT, are present at relatively high concentrations in food and show es
trogenic, anti-estrogenic or anti-androgenic activity in biological test sy
stems. Because bone mineral density (BMD) in men is influenced by sex hormo
nes, we looked for associations between BMD and serum concentrations of POC
s in 115 men (mean age 63 years, range 40-75 years) from the general Swedis
h population. Ten PCB congeners, five DDT isomers, hexachlorobenzene, three
hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, trans-nonachlor and oxychlordane were analy
zed by gas chromatography. Quantitative bone measurements were performed by
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at three sites: whole body, the L2-L4 reg
ion of the lumbar spine, and the neck region of the proximal femur, as well
as by quantitative ultrasound on the left os calcis (broadband ultrasound
attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS)). After adjustment for confoundi
ng factors in linear regression analyses we found no strong association bet
ween serum concentrations of single POCs and the five BMD and ultrasound va
riables. When POCs were grouped according to hormonal activity (estrogenic,
anti-estrogenic, anti-androgenic) and the study subjects were divided into
organochlorine concentration quartiles, a weak association was indicated b
etween increased serum concentrations of p,p'-DDE (antiandrogenic) and decr
eased BMD, BUA and SOS. This may suggest that p,p'-DDE could cause negative
effects on bone density, but the findings might also be due to chance sinc
e multiple comparisons were made in the statistical analysis. Overall our r
esults do not suggest that the studied POCs caused major effects on bone de
nsity in our study group.