Human urinary phthalate metabolites level and main semen parameters, sperm chromatin structure, sperm aneuploidy and reproductive hormones

The non-genomic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on mammalian sperm

“…They are usually used as plasticizers in a wide range of polyvinyl chloride products, including raincoats and footwear, toys, food packing and medical devices, and as solvents in personal care goods, coatings, and polishes (Fredricsson et al 1993, Pant et al 2011. Owing to their widespread use and non-covalent binding to products, phthalates can be constantly released and easily dispersed in the environment, being detected in individual populations worldwide (Duty et al 2003, Pant et al 2011, Jurewicz et al 2013. Although these compounds have short half-lives (hours) and do not accumulate in the body, chronic exposure to low levels obtained through diet and commonly used products can provide continuous steady state concentrations in the living organisms (Duty et al 2003).…”

“…Although a number of studies have associated urinary and seminal phthalate levels to a deterioration of important sperm parameters in environmentally exposed men, others failed to detect any alterations (Duty et al 2003, Jonsson et al 2005, Pant et al 2011, Jurewicz et al 2013. As significant temporal within-person variation has been described in metabolite concentrations determined in spot, first morning and 24-h urine samples, this discrepancy may be attributed, at least in part, to both variable phthalate levels and their short half-lives (Preau et al 2010).…”

“…Besides being detected in urine (Jonsson et al 2005, Xia et al 2009, Jurewicz et al 2013, breast milk (Chikuni et al 1991, Mocarelli et al 2011, and blood serum (Younglai et al 2002, Mocarelli et al 2008, important amounts of EDCs have also been found in secretions of the female reproductive tract, cervical mucus and follicular and seminal fluids (Tsutsumi et al 1998, Younglai et al 2002, Drbohlav et al 2005. This is particularly relevant as spermatozoa steep in these reproductive fluids/secretions on their journey toward the oocyte and are therefore in direct contact with such toxicants, an important route of exposure that should not be neglected.…”

Analysis of PAEs in semen of infertile men

“…3 Phthalates may interfere with the hormones that regulate the human reproductive and developmental processes. 4 Specifically, phthalates have been implicated in disrupting the human endocrine and reproductive systems. Animal experiments have demonstrated some phthalates to be endocrine disruptors, resulting in abnormalities of the male reproductive system and the inhibition of testicular testosterone production when exposed to it pre-or perinatally.…”

“…Some researchers have reported that urinary phthalate metabolite levels decrease sperm motility and increase sperm DNA damage. 4 Although some studies have reported an association between the presence of phthalate metabolites in urine and infertility, reports on the levels of phthalate and infertility are rare. Han et al…”