TY - JOUR
T1 - In utero exposure to persistent organochlorine pollutants and reproductive health in the human male
AU - Vested, Anne
AU - Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Høst
AU - Olsen, Sjurdur Frodi
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter Ellekilde
AU - Støvring, Henrik
AU - Kristensen, Susanne Lund
AU - Halldorsson, Thorhallur Ingi
AU - Rantakokko, Panu
AU - Kiviranta, Hannu
AU - Ernst, Emil Hagen
AU - Toft, Gunnar
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Persistent organochlorine pollutants are ubiquitous, bioaccumulative compounds with potential endocrine disrupting effects. They cross the placental barrier - thus the developing fetus is exposed in utero. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether maternal serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) during pregnancy are associated with sons' semen quality and reproductive hormone levels. During 2008-2009, we recruited 176 male offspring from a Danish cohort of pregnant women who participated in a study in 1988-1989. Each provided semen- and blood samples that were analysed for sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, and morphology, and reproductive hormone levels, respectively. Maternal blood samples from pregnancy week 30 were analysed for concentrations of six PCBs (PCB-118, -138, -153, -156, -170, and -180) and p,p'-DDE. Potential associations between in utero exposure to ΣPCBs (pmol/mL), Σdioxin like-(DL) PCBs (PCB-118 and -156) (pmol/mL), and p,p'-DDE and semen quality and reproductive hormone levels were investigated using multiple regression. Maternal median (range) exposure levels of ∑PCB, ∑DL-PCB, and p,p'-DDE were 10.0 (2.1-35.0) pmol/mL, 0.8 (0.2-2.7) pmol/mL, and 8.0 (0.7-55.3) pmol/mL, respectively, reflecting typical background exposure levels in the late 1980s in Denmark. Results suggested that in utero exposure to ∑PCB, ∑DL-PCB, and p,p'-DDE was not statistically significantly associated with semen quality measures or reproductive hormone levels. Thus, results based on maternal PCB and p,p'-DDE concentrations alone are not indicative of long-term consequences for male reproductive health, however, we cannot exclude that these POPs in concert with other endocrine modulating compounds may have adverse effects.
AB - Persistent organochlorine pollutants are ubiquitous, bioaccumulative compounds with potential endocrine disrupting effects. They cross the placental barrier - thus the developing fetus is exposed in utero. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether maternal serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) during pregnancy are associated with sons' semen quality and reproductive hormone levels. During 2008-2009, we recruited 176 male offspring from a Danish cohort of pregnant women who participated in a study in 1988-1989. Each provided semen- and blood samples that were analysed for sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, and morphology, and reproductive hormone levels, respectively. Maternal blood samples from pregnancy week 30 were analysed for concentrations of six PCBs (PCB-118, -138, -153, -156, -170, and -180) and p,p'-DDE. Potential associations between in utero exposure to ΣPCBs (pmol/mL), Σdioxin like-(DL) PCBs (PCB-118 and -156) (pmol/mL), and p,p'-DDE and semen quality and reproductive hormone levels were investigated using multiple regression. Maternal median (range) exposure levels of ∑PCB, ∑DL-PCB, and p,p'-DDE were 10.0 (2.1-35.0) pmol/mL, 0.8 (0.2-2.7) pmol/mL, and 8.0 (0.7-55.3) pmol/mL, respectively, reflecting typical background exposure levels in the late 1980s in Denmark. Results suggested that in utero exposure to ∑PCB, ∑DL-PCB, and p,p'-DDE was not statistically significantly associated with semen quality measures or reproductive hormone levels. Thus, results based on maternal PCB and p,p'-DDE concentrations alone are not indicative of long-term consequences for male reproductive health, however, we cannot exclude that these POPs in concert with other endocrine modulating compounds may have adverse effects.
U2 - 10.1530/REP-13-0488
DO - 10.1530/REP-13-0488
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 25190505
SN - 1470-1626
VL - 148
SP - 635
EP - 646
JO - Reproduction
JF - Reproduction
ER -