title: Distribution of persistent organochlorine contaminants in infertile patients from Tanzania and Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether environmental pollutants could affect fertility in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 women and 16 men from Tanzania and 21 couples from Germany were included (n = 89). Pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in serum, follicular fluid or seminal plasma by gaschromatography and related to sperm quality and pregnancy rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher concentrations of DDT+DDE and dieldrin in Tanzania and higher concentrations of PCBs in Germany and in men were detected. All compounds showed higher concentrations in serum and lowest concentrations in seminal plasma. A lower pregnancy rate in German women with high serum concentrations of DDT+DDE was observed. The toxins had no impact on sperm quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of toxins between agricultural and industrial countries is different. Seminal plasma seems to be inert against chemicals. In patients with high serum concentrations of DDT and DDE pregnancy rates were impaired.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinic Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538, Luebeck, Germany. jmweiss1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jürgen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Otmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blüthgen
authors.forename: Annika K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vollersen
authors.forename: Malise
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaisi
authors.forename: Safaa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Hasani
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diedrich
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D003634:DDT; D004026:Dieldrin