The relationship between human semen parameters and environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and p,p'-DDE.

Abstract

Scientific and public concern exists about potential reproductive health effects of persistent chlorinated organic chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE, the most stable daughter compound of DDT). To explore the hypothesis that environmental exposures to PCBs and DDE are associated with altered semen parameters, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 212 male partners of subfertile couples who presented to the Massachusetts General Hospital Andrology Laboratory. Semen parameters were analyzed as both a continuous measure and dichotomized based on World Health Organization reference values for sperm concentration (< 20 million/mL), motility (< 50% motile), and Kruger strict criteria for morphology (< 4% normal). The comparison group for the dichotomized analysis was men with all three semen parameters above the reference values. In serum, 57 PCB congeners and p,p -DDE were measured by congener-specific analysis using gas chromatography with electron capture detection. There were dose-response relationships among PCB-138 and sperm motility (odds ratio per tertile, adjusted for age, abstinence, and smoking, and p-value for trend were, respectively, 1.00, 1.68, 2.35, and p-value = 0.03) and morphology (1.00, 1.36, 2.53, p-value = 0.04). There was limited evidence of an inverse relationship between sum of PCBs, as well as those PCBs classified as cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers, with sperm motility and sperm morphology, as well as limited evidence of an inverse association between p,p -DDE and sperm motility. The lack of a consistent relationship among semen parameters and other individual PCB congeners and groupings of congeners may indicate a difference in spermatotoxicity between congeners.

Circulating estradiol in men is inversely related to urinary metabolites of nonpersistent insecticides

“…Details of subject recruitment have been previously described (28). Briefly, consecutive eligible men who were partners in subfertile couples being evaluated for infertility at the Massachusetts General Hospital Vincent Burnham Andrology lab between January 2000 and April 2003 were recruited to participate.…”

Serum PCBs, p,p′-DDE and HCB predict thyroid hormone levels in men

“…Measurement of PCBs, p,p′-DDE and HCB in serum was conducted by the Organic Chemistry Analytical Laboratory, Harvard School of Public Health, and has been described previously (Hauser et al 2003). Briefly, serum extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC/ECD) and quantified based on the response factors to an internal standard.…”

DDT reintroduction for malaria control: the cost-benefit debate for public health

“…Hauser et al 24,25 found a weak inverse association with sperm motility, but not with concentration, morphology, or altered DNA, when observing a population of 212 adults in their 30s who were partners of women considered sub-fertile in the United States. Waissmann 26 reported an association between DDT and some other solvents and decreased fertility and viable sperm concentration in semen.…”