Abstract
Phthalates are ubiquitous industrial chemicals that are reported to adversely affect human reproductive outcomes. Divergent effects on semen quality have been reported in a limited number of studies. To assess the possible contribution of regional differences in phthalate exposure to these results, we wished to determine if ambient phthalate exposure of men from the Great Lakes region was associated with human sperm parameters. Male partners (N=45) of subfertile couples presenting to a Michigan infertility clinic were recruited. Urinary concentrations of several phthalate metabolites were measured in these men. Semen parameters, measured according to the World Health Organization [WHO 1999] protocols, were divided into those at or above WHO cutoffs for motility (50% motile), concentration (20thinsp;million/mL) and morphology (4% normal) and those below. Phthalate metabolite concentrations were divided into those concentrations above the median and those at or below the median. Specific gravity was used as a covariate in the regression models to adjust for urine dilution. Low sperm concentration was significantly associated with above median concentrations of monoethyl phthalate (MEP) (OR=6.5, 95% CI: 1.0-43.6) and low morphology with above median concentrations of mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (OR=7.6, 95% CI: 1.7-33.3). Increased odds for low concentration and above median concentrations of metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (OR=5.4, 95% CI: 0.9-30.8) and low morphology and above median concentrations of MEP (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 0.9-13.8) were also found. A significant trend was observed for tertiles of MEP and low sperm concentration (p=0.05). Results suggest that ambient phthalate metabolite concentrations may adversely affect human semen quality.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 143-154 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Great Lakes
- biomonitoring
- exposure
- phthalate
- sperm
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Reproductive Medicine
- Urology
Cite this
A pilot study associating urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and semen quality. / Wirth, Julia J.; Rossano, Mary G.; Potter, Rachel; Puscheck, Elizabeth; Daly, Douglas C.; Paneth, Nigel; Krawetz, Stephen A.; Protas, Bridget M.; Diamond, Michael P.
In: Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine, Vol. 54, No. 3, 01.12.2008, p. 143-154.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A pilot study associating urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and semen quality
AU - Wirth, Julia J.
AU - Rossano, Mary G.
AU - Potter, Rachel
AU - Puscheck, Elizabeth
AU - Daly, Douglas C.
AU - Paneth, Nigel
AU - Krawetz, Stephen A.
AU - Protas, Bridget M.
AU - Diamond, Michael P.
PY - 2008/12/1
Y1 - 2008/12/1
N2 - Phthalates are ubiquitous industrial chemicals that are reported to adversely affect human reproductive outcomes. Divergent effects on semen quality have been reported in a limited number of studies. To assess the possible contribution of regional differences in phthalate exposure to these results, we wished to determine if ambient phthalate exposure of men from the Great Lakes region was associated with human sperm parameters. Male partners (N=45) of subfertile couples presenting to a Michigan infertility clinic were recruited. Urinary concentrations of several phthalate metabolites were measured in these men. Semen parameters, measured according to the World Health Organization [WHO 1999] protocols, were divided into those at or above WHO cutoffs for motility (50% motile), concentration (20thinsp;million/mL) and morphology (4% normal) and those below. Phthalate metabolite concentrations were divided into those concentrations above the median and those at or below the median. Specific gravity was used as a covariate in the regression models to adjust for urine dilution. Low sperm concentration was significantly associated with above median concentrations of monoethyl phthalate (MEP) (OR=6.5, 95% CI: 1.0-43.6) and low morphology with above median concentrations of mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (OR=7.6, 95% CI: 1.7-33.3). Increased odds for low concentration and above median concentrations of metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (OR=5.4, 95% CI: 0.9-30.8) and low morphology and above median concentrations of MEP (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 0.9-13.8) were also found. A significant trend was observed for tertiles of MEP and low sperm concentration (p=0.05). Results suggest that ambient phthalate metabolite concentrations may adversely affect human semen quality.
AB - Phthalates are ubiquitous industrial chemicals that are reported to adversely affect human reproductive outcomes. Divergent effects on semen quality have been reported in a limited number of studies. To assess the possible contribution of regional differences in phthalate exposure to these results, we wished to determine if ambient phthalate exposure of men from the Great Lakes region was associated with human sperm parameters. Male partners (N=45) of subfertile couples presenting to a Michigan infertility clinic were recruited. Urinary concentrations of several phthalate metabolites were measured in these men. Semen parameters, measured according to the World Health Organization [WHO 1999] protocols, were divided into those at or above WHO cutoffs for motility (50% motile), concentration (20thinsp;million/mL) and morphology (4% normal) and those below. Phthalate metabolite concentrations were divided into those concentrations above the median and those at or below the median. Specific gravity was used as a covariate in the regression models to adjust for urine dilution. Low sperm concentration was significantly associated with above median concentrations of monoethyl phthalate (MEP) (OR=6.5, 95% CI: 1.0-43.6) and low morphology with above median concentrations of mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (OR=7.6, 95% CI: 1.7-33.3). Increased odds for low concentration and above median concentrations of metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (OR=5.4, 95% CI: 0.9-30.8) and low morphology and above median concentrations of MEP (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 0.9-13.8) were also found. A significant trend was observed for tertiles of MEP and low sperm concentration (p=0.05). Results suggest that ambient phthalate metabolite concentrations may adversely affect human semen quality.
KW - Great Lakes
KW - biomonitoring
KW - exposure
KW - phthalate
KW - sperm
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=51449106917&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=51449106917&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/19396360802055921
DO - 10.1080/19396360802055921
M3 - Review article
C2 - 18570050
AN - SCOPUS:51449106917
VL - 54
SP - 143
EP - 154
JO - Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine
JF - Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine
SN - 1939-6368
IS - 3
ER -