Yi Hu, Yan Zhang, A. Vinturache
Dec 16, 2019
Citations
4
Influential Citations
25
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Chemosphere
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal experiments have revealed that pyrethroids (PYRs) exposure could affect semen quality, however evidence on humans being is limited and controversial. OBJECTS To explore the potential effects of environmental PYRs exposure on semen quality in reproductive age men. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 346 men who planned to conceive and addressed to hospital for preconception examination. PYRs exposure was assessed by analyzing PYRs urinary metabolites [3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA), trans- and cis-3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl) -2,2-dimethylcy clopropane carboxylic acid (TDCCA and CDCCA)] levels using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Semen quality was assessed by a computer-aided semen analyzer. RESULTS For a detection rate of 99.7%, 76.6%, and 22.0%, the median levels (μg/g creatinine) of PYRs metabolites were 0.46 for 3PBA, 0.38 for TDCCA and under detection limit for CDCCA. Linear regression models found negative associations between 3PBA and sperm morphology (β = -2.12, 95% CI: -4.02 to -0.22) as well as between TDCCA and log-transformed total sperm count (β = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.16 to -0.01). In logistic regression models, men with the highest quartile of 3PBA had higher risk of poor semen quality (having below-reference semen parameter, OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.26 to 4.54; having below-reference sperms morphology, OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.10 to 8.60) compared to men in the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that environmental PYRs exposure might adversely affect semen parameters of reproductive age men in Shanghai, China. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and demonstrate a causal relationship between PYRs exposure and semen quality.