title: Urinary phthalate metabolites and male reproductive function parameters in Chongqing general population, China.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the phthalates exposure levels in general population in Chongqing City of China, and to determine the possible associations between phthalate exposure and male reproductive function parameters. We recruited 232 general men through Chongqing Family Planning Research Institute and Reproductive Center of Chongqing. In a single spot urine sample from each man, phthalate metabolites, including mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), phthalic acid (PA), and total PA were analyzed using solid phase extraction and coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography and detection by tandem mass spectrometry. Semen parameters were dichotomized based on World Health Organization reference values. Sperm DNA damage were analyzed using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis assay. Reproductive hormones were determined in serum by the radioimmunoassay kit. We observed a weak association between urinary MBP concentration and sperm concentration in Chongqing general population. MBP levels above the median were 1.97 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97-4.04) more likely to have sperm concentration below the reference value. There were no other associations between phthalate metabolites and reproductive function parameters after adjusted for potential risk factors. Our study suggested that general population in Chongqing area of China exposure to the environmental level of phthalate have weak or without adverse effects on the reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Niya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Science and Technology for Population and Family Planning, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Mingfu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Science and Technology for Population and Family Planning, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Lianbing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Weiqun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Jinyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China. Electronic address: caojia1962@126.com.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004249:DNA Damage; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C032279:phthalic acid
keywords: DAN damage; Hormone; Human; Male; Metabolites; Phthalate; Reproduction; Semen; Sperm