The relation between urinary metabolite of pyrethroid insecticides and semen quality in humans.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possible association between internal exposure levels of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), an urinary metabolite of pyrethroids, and altered semen quality in Chinese men.


METHODS
A retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
Center of clinical reproductive medicine.


METHODS
Three hundred seventy-six men with nonobstructive infertility.


METHODS
Urinary 3-PBA concentration, semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm number per ejaculum, sperm motility, sperm progression, and motion parameters.


RESULTS
The median 3-PBA concentration was 0.879 microg/g of creatinine. There was suggestive association between increased creatinine-adjusted 3-PBA quartiles and sperm concentration (odd ratios for the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles were 1.00, 1.31, 1.73, and 2.04, respectively), whereas sperm volume, sperm number per ejaculum, and sperm motility were weakly or nonsignificantly associated with 3-PBA quartiles. The sperm progression and motion parameters associated with creatinine-adjusted 3-PBA levels were straight line velocity (VSL) and curvilinear velocity (VCL).


CONCLUSIONS
These observed associations between 3-PBA levels and some altered semen quality indicated the reproductive effects of pyrethroid exposure on adult men.
Xia
Yankai
Y
Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Han
Yan
Y
Wu
Bin
B
Wang
Shoulin
S
Gu
Aihua
A
Lu
Ningxia
N
Bo
Jianling
J
Song
Lin
L
Jin
Nianzu
N
Wang
Xinru
X
D000328:Adult; D001565:Benzoates / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004542:Ejaculation; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects
D001565:Benzoates; D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017618:3-phenoxybenzoic acid; D003404:Creatinine