ArticleEarly human development2019
The 2nd to 4th digit length ratio (2D:4D) among children of Seveso women exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
Article in Early human development, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- A State of the Science Review of Human Health Effects of the Michigan Polybrominated Biphenyl Contamination after Five Decades.Environmental health perspectives · 2025Review
- Prenatal exposure to air pollutants and the second to fourth digit ratio in adult women.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Digit ratio, a proposed marker of the prenatal hormone environment, is not associated with prenatal sex steroids, anogenital distance, or gender-typed play behavior in preschool age children.Journal of developmental origins of health and disease · 2021Article
- Associations Between Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Gene Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Second-to-Fourth Digit Ratio in Chinese University Students.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2021Article
- Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Dioxin-Related Health Hazards-Lessons from Yusho.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- The association between second to fourth digit ratio, reproductive and general health among women: findings from an Israeli pregnancy cohort.Scientific reports · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundExposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during sensitive developmental windows, such as in utero, may influence disease later in life but direct measurement of fetal hormones is not feasible. The ratio of the length of the second finger digit to the fourth digit (2D:4D), a sexually dimorphic trait, is a biomarker of androgen levels and the androgen/estrogen balance in utero. However, it is unclear whether in utero EDC exposure might alter 2D:4D ratio.
aimsWe examined 2D:4D ratio in Seveso children in relation to in utero exposure to a potent EDC, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) using linear regression. STUDY
designThe Seveso Women's Health Study (SWHS) is a historical cohort study, following the health of women exposed to TCDD during a 1976 explosion in Seveso, Italy. Individual-level TCDD was measured for SWHS in serum collected soon after the accident. In 2014, the SWHS children born after the explosion were enrolled in the Seveso Second Generation Study. SUBJECTS: 594 SWHS children born post-explosion to 397 mothers. OUTCOME MEASURES: Right hand 2D:4D ratio.
resultsOn average, 2D:4D ratio for males was significantly lower than for females (p < 0.05). Overall, in utero TCDD exposure, either as maternal initial serum TCDD concentration or as TCDD extrapolated to pregnancy was not significantly associated with 2D:4D ratio in Seveso children. Results from all adjusted sensitivity analyses remained non-significant.
conclusionsOur results suggest in utero exposure to TCDD is not associated with alteration in 2D:4D ratio.
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