title: The association between semen quality in workers and the concentration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in polyvinyl chloride pellet plant air.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate potential associations between semen quality in workers and the concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in personal air collected from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  PVC plants in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five male workers employed in two PVC pellet plants.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and chromatin DNA integrity were accessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The workers were divided into low- and high-DEHP-exposed groups in accordance with the median levels of DEHP (23.7 μg/m(3)) in personal air. In the high-DEHP-exposed group, significant increases were found in the tendency for sperm DNA denaturation (αT) induction, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and propensity for coffee drinking. After adjusting for coffee drinking, cigarette smoking, and age, personal air concentrations of DEHP showed positive associations with αT (β = 0.038) and DFI (β = 0.140) and negative associations with sperm motility (β = -0.227).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to demonstrate a link between DEHP concentration in ambient air and the adverse effects in sperm motility and chromatin DNA integrity. Given the current wide use of these PVC products, the implications for phthalates toxicity and occupational health could be considerable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ching-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ping-Chi
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Tung-Sheng
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016272:Occupational Health; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate