Semen quality and exposure to persistent organochlorine pollutants

Background: Inconsistent results have been found in previous human studies on male reproductive toxicity of persistent organochlorine pollutants. The majority of studies have been conducted among selected populations of infertility clients or among occupational cohorts including a limited number of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology
Main Authors: G. Toft, A. Rignell Hydbom, E. Tyrkiel, M. Shvets, A. Giwercman, CH Lindh, HS Pedersen, JK Ludwicki, K. Lesovoy, L. Hagmar, M. Spano, EC Bonefeld Jorgensen, AM Thulstrup, JP Bonde, MANICARDI, Gian Carlo
Other Authors: G., Toft, A., Rignell Hydbom, E., Tyrkiel, M., Shvet, A., Giwercman, Ch, Lindh, Hs, Pedersen, Jk, Ludwicki, K., Lesovoy, L., Hagmar, M., Spano, Manicardi, Gian Carlo, EC Bonefeld, Jorgensen, Am, Thulstrup, Jp, Bonde
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2006
Subjects:
MALE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION
VECTOR-CONTROL WORKERS
POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS
SPERM FUNCTION
POSTNATAL EXPOSURE
LIMPOPO PROVINCE
HORMONE-LEVELS
DDT EXPOSURE
SOUTH-AFRICA
ADULT RATS
Greenland
greenlandic
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11380/304021
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ede.0000221769.41028.d2
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Summary:Background: Inconsistent results have been found in previous human studies on male reproductive toxicity of persistent organochlorine pollutants. The majority of studies have been conducted among selected populations of infertility clients or among occupational cohorts including a limited number of participants. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of semen quality and serum concentration of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE) among 763 men. We included men from all regions in Greenland (n = 194), fishermen from Sweden (n = 185), inhabitants of the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine (n = 195), and inhabitants of the city of Warsaw, Poland (n = 189). Blood samples were analyzed for CB-153 and p,p'-DDE using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and adjusted for serum lipids. Results: Sperm concentration was not impaired with increasing serum CB-153 or p,p'-DDE levels in any of the separate groups or overall. Similarly, the proportion of morphologically normal sperm was not associated with either CB-153 or p,p'-DDE blood concentration. However, sperm motility was inversely related to CB-153 concentration in Greenland and the Swedish fishermen population. Across all 4 regions, the sperm motility decreased on average by 3.6% (95% confidence interval = 1.7% to 5.6%) per one-unit increase in the log of blood CB-153 (ng/g lipid). The concentration of p,p'-DDE was negatively associated with sperm motility in the Greenlandic population and in the compiled dataset. Conclusion: Adult exposure to persistent organochlorine pollutants within the ranges observed in the present study is not likely to cause reduction in sperm concentration or morphology. However, higher exposure may be associated with impaired sperm motility.

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