title: Semen quality after prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans.
abstract: Large-scale poisoning occurred in central Taiwan in 1979 from ingestion of cooking oil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. To determine whether in-utero exposure to these chemicals alters reproductive function, all prenatally exposed boys and appropriate controls were contacted for medical examination in 1998. Sperm of exposed children have increased abnormal morphology, reduced motility, and reduced capacity to penetrate hamster oocytes. Whether this will cause reduced fecundity, and how these effects can be extrapolated to the general population exposed to background levels of PCBs and dioxin-like chemicals, warrants further investigation.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls