Semen Quality and the Level of Reproductive Hormones After Environmental Exposure to Pyrethroids

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2014-11, Vol.56 (11), p.1113-1119
• Main Authors: Radwan, Michal, Jurewicz, Joanna, Wielgomas, Bartosz, Sobala, Wojciech, Piskunowicz, Marta, Radwan, Paweł, Hanke, Wojciech
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Benzoates - urine; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Body fluids; Chromatography; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Estradiol - blood; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hormones; Humans; Infertility; Insecticides - metabolism; Insecticides - toxicity; Male; Mass spectrometry; Medical sciences; Mens health; Metabolites; Original Article; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Pyrethrins - metabolism; Pyrethrins - toxicity; Pyrethrins - urine; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - abnormalities; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Testosterone - blood; Toxicology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1076-2752; 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000297

OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to determine whether the environmental exposure to pyrethroids affects semen quality and the level of reproductive hormones in men. METHODS:The study population consisted of 334 men who attended the infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes and who had normal semen concentration of 15 to 300 mln/mL. Participants were interviewed and provided a semen sample. The pyrethroids metabolites—3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA), cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (CDCCA), trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (TDCCA), and cis-2,2-dibromovinyl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (DBCA) were analyzed in the urine using a validated gas chromatography ion-trap mass spectrometry method. RESULTS:Urinary pyrethroids metabolites levels were significantly associated with an increase in the percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology and decrease in sperm concentration, the level of testosterone, and computer-aided semen analysis parameters. CONCLUSIONS:Environmental pyrethroids exposure may affect semen quality and the level of reproductive hormones.