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Article: Polychlorinated biphenyls and reproductive hormones in female polar bears at Svalbard. (Research).
- Article from:
- Environmental Health Perspectives
- Article date:
- April 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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High concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in polar bears from Svalbard have increased concern for that population's reproductive health. We examined whether there were associations between the plasma concentrations of PCBs and reproductive hormones [progesterone ([P.sub.4]) and 17[beta]-estradiol ([E.sub.2])] in free-living female polar bears from Svalbard. Concentrations of [P.sub.4] depended on reproductive status, and concentrations were lowest in females with offspring--females with cubs and females with yearlings. In these females, the [P.sub.4] concentrations were positively correlated with plasma [SIGMA]PCBs (sum of all analyzed polychlorinated ...