title: Persistent organic pollutants and semen quality: The LIFE Study.
abstract: Growing evidence suggests that persistent environmental chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls may adversely affect human fecundity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between persistent environmental chemicals and semen quality among 501 male partners of couples discontinuing contraception for purposes of becoming pregnant. Men provided a blood specimen and two fresh semen samples collected approximately a month apart that underwent next day analysis for 35 semen quality endpoints. Serum samples were analyzed for 36 polychlorinated biphenyls (congeners #18, 28, 44, 49, 52, 66, 74, 87, 99, 101, 114, 118, 128, 138, 146, 149, 151, 153, 156, 157, 167, 170, 172, 177, 178, 180, 183, 187, 189, 194, 195, 196, 201, 206, 209); 1 polybrominated biphenyl (#153); 9 organochlorine pesticides; and 10 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (congeners #17, 28, 47, 66, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154183) using high resolution mass spectrometry. To estimate the effect of chemicals on semen quality, we regressed each semen marker on each chemical while adjusting for research site, age, body mass index, serum lipids, and cotinine levels. Males with chemical concentrations in the fourth quartile, as compared to the first quartile, showed significant associations for several individual chemicals in each chemical class and type of semen quality parameter indicating negative and positive associations with semen quality. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in particular were associated with several measures of increased abnormal morphology. These exploratory results highlight the role of environmental influences on male fecundity, and are of particular interest given the ubiquitous exposures to these compounds.
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6100 Executive Blvd, 7B03, Rockville, MD 20852, United States. Electronic address: mumfords@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Sunni L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mumford
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6100 Executive Blvd, 7B03, Rockville, MD 20852, United States. Electronic address: kims2@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Sungduk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6100 Executive Blvd, 7B03, Rockville, MD 20852, United States. Electronic address: chenzhe@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The EMMES Corporation, Rockville, MD, United States. Electronic address: rlangton@emmes.com.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gore-Langton
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: dbbarr@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boyd Barr
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6100 Executive Blvd, 7B03, Rockville, MD 20852, United States. Electronic address: louisg@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Germaine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Buck Louis
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005298:Fertility; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Male fecundity; Persistent organic pollutants; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Semen quality; Sperm