Exposure to persistent organochlorine pollutants and seminal levels of markers of epididymal and accessory sex gland functions in Swedish men.
BACKGROUND
A major exposure route for persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) in Sweden is through consumption of fatty fish from the Baltic Sea. Endocrine disruptors, such as POPs, may have a negative impact on sperm quality. The present study aimed to investigate whether exposure to 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE) affects epididymal and accessory sex gland function.


METHODS
157 fishermen from the coastal stretches of Sweden, aged 27-67 years, provided semen samples which were analyzed for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG), fructose and zinc levels. Serum levels of CB-153 and p'p-DDE were determined.


RESULTS
The median CB-153 serum level was 189 ng/g lipid (range 40-1460) and a median p,p'-DDE serum level 231 ng/g lipid (range 40-2252). There was a significant linear association between CB-153 and total amount of PSA (slope [beta] = -2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] -4.0, -0.9; P = 0.02). With age, abstinence time and smoking included in the model the association became non-significant (beta = -1.4, 95% CI-3.0, 0.1; P = 0.07). There were no significant associations between CB-153 and zinc, fructose and NAG. As for the exposure variable p,p'-DDE and the outcome variables, no significant associations were found.


CONCLUSIONS
The study gives only very limited support of an association between CB-153 in serum and total PSA, and a random finding cannot be excluded.
Rignell-Hydbom
A
A
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund. Anna.Rignell-Hydbom@ymed.lu.se
Rylander
L
L
Elzanaty
S
S
Giwercman
A
A
Lindh
C H
CH
Hagmar
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013548:Sweden; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism
D000728:Androgens; D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D005632:Fructose; D013739:Testosterone; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D015032:Zinc; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl