title: Investigation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon level in blood and semen quality for residents in Pearl River Delta Region in China.
abstract: This study is the first one investigating the correlation between the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in blood and semen qualities for residents in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region in China. Blood samples from 53 infertile volunteers were studied for measures of semen quality and 16 PAHs. Information on the study subjects' living habits (such as smoking, drinking and preference of consumption for food) and general information (age, body-mass-index (BMI) and educational background) were also collected. Statistical results showed that age and BMI were significantly and negatively related to semen motilities. The total concentrations of PAHs (∑16 PAHs) in the blood were 12,010, 7493, 9105 and 8647ng/g for factory workers, office workers, technicians and salespersons, respectively. In addition, ∑16 PAHs in the blood of smokers, drinkers and heavy-taste food consumers were 11,950, 11,266 and 12,141ng/g, which were higher than those observed in nonsmokers (10,457ng/g), nondrinkers (10,920ng/g) and light-taste food consumers (9202ng/g), individually. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation analysis results showed significant positive correlations between BMI and ∑16 PAHs in the blood. Statistically significant correlations were observed between semen motilities and ∑16 PAHs in the blood as well. Logistic regression results showed that for each 1ng/g increase in ∑16 PAHs in blood samples, the log odds of experiencing a pregnancy decrease by 0.039 on average. However, more evidences are needed to clarify the impact of PAHs in the blood to male infertility.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, China.
authors.forename: Xiao Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zhi Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Ya Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yen Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D045483:Rivers; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Male infertility; Pearl River Delta; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Semen quality; Whole blood