Environmental organochlorines and semen quality: Results of a pilot study

Hauser, R; Altshul, L; Chen, Z; Ryan, L; Overstreet, J; Schiff, I; Christian, DC

Environmental organochlorines and semen quality: Results of a pilot study

Hauser, R Altshul, L Chen, Z Ryan, L

Overstreet, J Schiff, I Christian, DC

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environmental Health Perspectives, 2002, 110 (3), pp. 229 - 233
Issue Date:: 2002-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hauser, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Altshul, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Chen, Z	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ryan, L https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5957-2490	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Overstreet, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Schiff, I	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Christian, DC	en_US
dc.date.issued	2002-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Environmental Health Perspectives, 2002, 110 (3), pp. 229 - 233	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0091-6765	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/88309
dc.description.abstract	There have been numerous studies that suggest that sperm concentrations (sperm counts) are declining in men. However, other studies suggest that sperm counts are not declining or may be increasing in some areas. Although there is disagreement on whether there is a downward temporal trend in sperm counts, the studies provide evidence that sperm counts vary by geographic location. It has been hypothesized that the geographic variation in sperm concentrations may be due to environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, or some unknown causes. To determine whether contemporary ambient levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p′-DDE are associated with altered semen quantity and quality, we selected a study population without specific exposure to PCBs or p,p′-DDE. The present study presents the results from a pilot study on the relationship between serum PCBs and p,p′-DDE and semen quality in 29 subjects recruited from the Massachusetts General Hospital Andrology Laboratory. Of the 29 subjects, 3 had sperm concentrations < 20 million/mL, 7 had < 50% motile sperm, 9 had < 4% normal morphology, and 6 were below normal in more than one semen parameter. The 18 subjects with normal spermatozoa concentration, motility, and morphology were used as comparison subjects. The mean (SE) concentration of the sum of PCBs and p,p′-DDE was 242 ng/g lipids (34.0) and 354 ng/g lipids (120), respectively, for men with below normal motility as compared to 202 ng/g lipids (16.6) and 240 ng/g lipids (31.1), respectively, for the comparison subjects. The data showed general trends that were suggestive of an association between PCBs and p,p′-DDE and abnormal motility, as well as with sperm concentration and morphology. A full-scale study is currently in progress.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Environmental Health Perspectives	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1289/ehp.02110229	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Spermatozoa	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Polychlorinated Biphenyls	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Insecticides	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Pollutants	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sperm Count	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pilot Projects	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Exposure	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sperm Motility	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.title	Environmental organochlorines and semen quality: Results of a pilot study	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	110	en_US
utslib.for	010402 Biostatistics	en_US
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	110	en_US

Abstract:

There have been numerous studies that suggest that sperm concentrations (sperm counts) are declining in men. However, other studies suggest that sperm counts are not declining or may be increasing in some areas. Although there is disagreement on whether there is a downward temporal trend in sperm counts, the studies provide evidence that sperm counts vary by geographic location. It has been hypothesized that the geographic variation in sperm concentrations may be due to environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, or some unknown causes. To determine whether contemporary ambient levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p′-DDE are associated with altered semen quantity and quality, we selected a study population without specific exposure to PCBs or p,p′-DDE. The present study presents the results from a pilot study on the relationship between serum PCBs and p,p′-DDE and semen quality in 29 subjects recruited from the Massachusetts General Hospital Andrology Laboratory. Of the 29 subjects, 3 had sperm concentrations < 20 million/mL, 7 had < 50% motile sperm, 9 had < 4% normal morphology, and 6 were below normal in more than one semen parameter. The 18 subjects with normal spermatozoa concentration, motility, and morphology were used as comparison subjects. The mean (SE) concentration of the sum of PCBs and p,p′-DDE was 242 ng/g lipids (34.0) and 354 ng/g lipids (120), respectively, for men with below normal motility as compared to 202 ng/g lipids (16.6) and 240 ng/g lipids (31.1), respectively, for the comparison subjects. The data showed general trends that were suggestive of an association between PCBs and p,p′-DDE and abnormal motility, as well as with sperm concentration and morphology. A full-scale study is currently in progress.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26239