Heavy metal exposures are ubiquitous in the environment and their relation to sex
hormones is not well understood. This paper investigates the associations between selected
heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and sex hormones (testosterone, free testosterone,
estradiol, free estradiol) as well as other major molecules in the steroid biosynthesis
pathway (androstanedione glucuronide and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG)). Blood
lead and cadmium were selected as biomarkers of exposure, and tested for associations in …

Heavy metal exposures are ubiquitous in the environment and their relation to sex
hormones is not well understood. This paper investigates the associations between selected
heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and sex hormones (testosterone, free testosterone,
estradiol, free estradiol) as well as other major molecules in the steroid biosynthesis
pathway (androstanedione glucuronide and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG)). Blood
lead and cadmium were selected as biomarkers of exposure, and tested for associations in …