Background: Few human studies have evaluated the impact of childhood exposure to organochiorine pesticides (OCP) on sexual maturity, especially in boys. Aims: To evaluate the association of serum OCP concentrations [hexachlorobenzene (HCB), 3-hexachlorocyclohexane (3-HCH), and p,p-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE)] with sexual maturity among boys in Chapaevsk, Russia, a town with environmental contamination from organochiorine compounds. Methods: 499 boys were recruited at ages 8-9 years in 2003-2005 from Chapaevsk, Russia and followed prospectively for 7 years. At entry, 350 boys had serum OCPs measured. Sexual maturity was defined as testicular volume ≥20mL, or Tanner stage 5 for genitalia (G) or pubic hair (P). We used multivariable interval-censored models to assess the associations of serum-lipid adjusted quartiles of OCPs with physician-assessed sexual maturity rating. Results: Median (25th, 75th percentile) for concentrations of serum HCB, 3-HCH, and p,p'-DDE concentrations at study entry were 154 (106, 242), 165 (110, 261), and 286 (187, 481) ng/g lipids, respectively. At the last exam, 69%, 49%, and 22% attained TV ≥ 20mL, G5, and P5 sexual maturity, respectively. Later age of maturity was observed for higher β-HCH for all pubertal outcomes. For example, mature testicular volume was achieved 4.3 months (95% CI: -0.4, 9.0), 5.2 months (95% CI: 0.4, 9.9), and 7.0 months (95% CI: 2.1,11.8) later for quartiles 2, 3, and 4, respectively compared to quartile 1 of β-HCH (trend p: 0.01). Later sexual maturity by P5 was also observed for HCB and p,p'-DDE. For HCB, P5 was attained 6.8 months (95% CI: -0.3,14.0), 10.0 months (95% CI: 2.4,17.5), and 7.6 months (95% CI: 0.3,14.9) later for quartiles 2, 3, and 4, respectively compared to quartile 1 (trend p: 0.02). Conclusions: Higher serum OCP concentrations measured in boys at 8-9 years of age were associated with a later age of attainment of sexual maturity measures.
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