Semen quality and sperm DNA damage in relation to urinary bisphenol A among men from an infertility clinic

• Published in: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2010-12, Vol.30 (4), p.532-539
• Main Authors: Meeker, John D., Ehrlich, Shelley, Toth, Thomas L., Wright, Diane L., Calafat, Antonia M., Trisini, Ana T., Ye, Xiaoyun, Hauser, Russ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Benzhydryl Compounds; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - urine; Birth control; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA Damage - drug effects; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Endocrine disruption; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Endocrine Disruptors - urine; Environment; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Environmental Pollutants - urine; Epidemiology; Estrogenic; Exposure; Fertility; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infertility, Male - chemically induced; Infertility, Male - urine; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oligospermia - chemically induced; Oligospermia - urine; Phenols - toxicity; Phenols - urine; Reproduction; Reproductive Health Services; Semen Analysis; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Statistics as Topic; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Teratology. Teratogens; Toxicology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0890-6238; 1873-1708
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2010.07.005

Bisphenol A (BPA) impairs spermatogenesis in animals, but human studies are lacking. We measured urinary BPA concentrations, semen quality, and sperm DNA damage (comet assay) in 190 men recruited through an infertility clinic. BPA was detected in 89% of samples, with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) concentration of 1.3 (0.8–2.5) ng/mL. Urinary BPA concentration was associated with slightly elevated, though not statistically significant, odds for below reference sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. When modeled as continuous dependent variables, an IQR increase in urinary BPA concentration was associated with declines in sperm concentration, motility, and morphology of 23% (95%CI −40%, −0.3%), 7.5% (−17%, +1.5%), and 13% (−26%, −0.1%), respectively, along with a 10% (0.03%, 19%) increase in sperm DNA damage measured as the percentage of DNA in comet tail. In conclusion, urinary BPA may be associated with declined semen quality and increased sperm DNA damage, but confirmatory studies are needed.