title: Environmental hexachlorobenzene exposure and human male reproductive function.
abstract: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a persistent environmental fungicide that may disrupt androgen regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between HCB levels and biomarkers of male reproductive function. 589 Spouses of pregnant women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine were enrolled between 2002 and 2004. The men provided semen and blood samples and were interviewed. HCB was measured in serum by gas chromatography. The mean serum concentrations of HCB were higher in Ukraine (182.3ng/g lipid) and Greenland (79.0ng/g lipid) compared to Poland (14.2ng/g lipid). Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and free androgen index (FAI) were associated with HCB in men from Ukraine and Poland. This study spanning large differences in environmental HCB exposure levels shows a positive association for SHBG and negative association for FAI with high serum levels of HCB in fertile men, but without major consequences for semen quality and the Inuit study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark; Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, USA. Electronic address: ina.olmer.specht@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Ina Olmer
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Specht
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. Electronic address: jens.peter.ellekilde.bonde@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Jens Peter Ellekilde
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: gunnar.toft@clin.au.dk.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.affiliation: Molecular Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden. Electronic address: aleksander.giwercman@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giwercman
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Unit of Radiation Biology and Human Health, ENEA Casaccia Research Center, IT-00123 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: marcello.spano@enea.it.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spanò
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche Via Brecce Bianche, IT-60131 Ancona, Italy. Electronic address: d.bizzaro@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bizzaro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della vita, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, IT-41121 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: giancarlo.manicardi@unimore.it.
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Manicardi
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: bo_a.jonsson@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Bo A G
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.affiliation: Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, USA. Electronic address: wrobbins@sonnet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Wendie A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone
keywords: Antiandrogen; Endocrine disrupter; Fertility; Hexachlorobenzene; Reproduction; Reproductive hormones