Qing Chen1, Huan Yang1, Niya Zhou1, Lei Sun1, Huaqiong Bao2, Lu Tan1, Hongqiang Chen1, Xi Ling1, Guowei Zhang1, Linping Huang1, Lianbing Li2, Mingfu Ma2, Hao Yang2, Xiaogang Wang1, Peng Zou1, Kaige Peng1, Taixiu Liu1, Xiefei Shi3, Dejian Feng3, Ziyuan Zhou4, Lin Ao1, Zhihong Cui5, Jia Cao6. 1. Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Gaotanyan St 30, Chongqing 400038, China. 2. Chongqing Institute of Science and Technology for Population and Family Planning, Yangheercun 5, Chongqing 401147, China. 3. National Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology, Yushuang St 10, Chengdu, Sichuan 610021, China. 4. Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Gaotanyan St 30, Chongqing 400038, China. 5. Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Gaotanyan St 30, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: cuizhihong@tmmu.edu.cn. 6. Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Gaotanyan St 30, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: caojia1962@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Environment-Protection-Agency Reference Doses (EPA RfDs) for phthalate intakes are based on limited evidence, especially regarding low-dose male-reproductive toxicity. This study investigates the association between phthalate exposure and semen parameters and reproductive hormones in a general population with low phthalate exposure compared to the EPA RfDs. METHODS: The MARHCS (Male-Reproductive-Health-in-Chongqing-College-Students) cohort recruited 796 male students, who experienced a relocation of campuses and shifting environmental exposure. Urine, semen and blood before and after the relocation was collected and investigated for: (1) the associations between 13 urinary phthalate metabolites and 11 semen/hormone outcomes (five semen parameters including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, progressive motility, normal morphology) and six serum reproductive hormones including estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, progesterone, testosterone; (2) re-analysis of the metabolite-outcome associations in the subjects with estimated phthalate intakes below the RfDs; (3) a change in phthalate metabolites and change in semen/hormone outcomes after the relocation; (4) the association between these changes. RESULTS: (1) All but two semen/hormone outcomes were associated with at least one phthalate metabolite, e.g., each quartile monoethyl phthalate was associated with a 5.3%, 5.7% and 2.6% decrease of sperm concentration, total sperm number and progressive motility respectively. (2) In the subjects with phthalate intakes below the RfDs, these metabolite-outcome associations remained significant. (3) All metabolites except mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate declined after relocation (P<0.001 respectively); at the same time, semen volume, normal morphology, estradiol and luteinizing hormone increased (by 5.9%, 25.0%, 34.2% and 10.0%) and testosterone decreased (by 7.0%). (4) The changes in semen volume, normal morphology, estradiol and testosterone, but not the change in luteinizing hormone after relocation, were associated with the changes in the phthalate metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: Phthalate exposure is associated with interrupted semen quality and reproductive hormones in the human population even with a dose given below the RfDs. These effects, however, may only partially revert back when exposure decreases, thus emphasizing the urgency of stricter phthalate administration.
BACKGROUND: Environment-Protection-Agency Reference Doses (EPA RfDs) for phthalate intakes are based on limited evidence, especially regarding low-dose male-reproductive toxicity. This study investigates the association between phthalate exposure and semen parameters and reproductive hormones in a general population with low phthalate exposure compared to the EPA RfDs. METHODS: The MARHCS (Male-Reproductive-Health-in-Chongqing-College-Students) cohort recruited 796 male students, who experienced a relocation of campuses and shifting environmental exposure. Urine, semen and blood before and after the relocation was collected and investigated for: (1) the associations between 13 urinary phthalate metabolites and 11 semen/hormone outcomes (five semen parameters including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, progressive motility, normal morphology) and six serum reproductive hormones including estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, progesterone, testosterone; (2) re-analysis of the metabolite-outcome associations in the subjects with estimated phthalate intakes below the RfDs; (3) a change in phthalate metabolites and change in semen/hormone outcomes after the relocation; (4) the association between these changes. RESULTS: (1) All but two semen/hormone outcomes were associated with at least one phthalate metabolite, e.g., each quartile monoethyl phthalate was associated with a 5.3%, 5.7% and 2.6% decrease of sperm concentration, total sperm number and progressive motility respectively. (2) In the subjects with phthalate intakes below the RfDs, these metabolite-outcome associations remained significant. (3) All metabolites except mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate declined after relocation (P<0.001 respectively); at the same time, semen volume, normal morphology, estradiol and luteinizing hormone increased (by 5.9%, 25.0%, 34.2% and 10.0%) and testosterone decreased (by 7.0%). (4) The changes in semen volume, normal morphology, estradiol and testosterone, but not the change in luteinizing hormone after relocation, were associated with the changes in the phthalate metabolites. CONCLUSIONS:Phthalate exposure is associated with interrupted semen quality and reproductive hormones in the human population even with a dose given below the RfDs. These effects, however, may only partially revert back when exposure decreases, thus emphasizing the urgency of stricter phthalate administration.
Authors: Elena Domínguez-Romero; Klára Komprdová; Jiří Kalina; Jos Bessems; Spyros Karakitsios; Dimosthenis A Sarigiannis; Martin Scheringer Journal: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol Date: 2022-05-05 Impact factor: 5.563
Authors: Karen C Baker; Anne Z Steiner; Karl R Hansen; Kurt T Barnhart; Marcelle I Cedars; Richard S Legro; Michael P Diamond; Stephen A Krawetz; Rebecca Usadi; Valerie L Baker; R Matthew Coward; Fangbai Sun; Robert Wild; Puneet Masson; James F Smith; Nanette Santoro; Heping Zhang Journal: F S Rep Date: 2022-03-17
Authors: Thoin F Begum; Victor Y Fujimoto; Roy Gerona; Alexandra McGough; Nikolaus Lenhart; Rebecca Wong; Evelyn Mok-Lin; Jonathan Melamed; Celeste D Butts; Michael S Bloom Journal: Reprod Toxicol Date: 2020-11-30 Impact factor: 3.143
Authors: Lidia Caporossi; Alessandra Alteri; Giovanni Campo; Enrico Paci; Giovanna Tranfo; Silvia Capanna; Enrico Papaleo; Daniela Pigini; Paola Viganò; Bruno Papaleo Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-01-13 Impact factor: 3.390