Urinary Bisphenol A, F and S Levels and Semen Quality in Young Adult Danish Men.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is considered an endocrine disruptor and has been associated with deleterious effects on spermatogenesis and male fertility. Bisphenol F (BPF) and S (BPS) are structurally similar to BPA, but knowledge of their effects on male fertility remains limited. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between exposure to BPA, BPF, and BPS and semen quality in 556 men 18-20 years of age from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort. A urine sample was collected from each participant for determination of BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations while a semen sample was collected to determine ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. Associations between urinary bisphenol levels (continuous and quartile-divided) and semen characteristics were estimated using a negative binomial regression model adjusting for urine creatinine concentration, alcohol intake, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), fever, sexual abstinence time, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, and first trimester smoking, and highest parental education during first trimester. We found no associations between urinary bisphenol of semen quality in a sample of young men from the general Danish population.

Use of Personal Care Products and Semen Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study in Young Danish Men.

Personal care products (PCPs) may contain multiple chemicals capable of harming male reproductive function. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess aggregated PCP exposure and potential associations with measures of semen quality in young men. Participants (n = 1058, age 18-21) were sampled among young men from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Upon recruitment in 2017-2019, each man answered an online questionnaire and provided a semen sample. Exposure to 12 common types of PCPs was derived from the questionnaire, and the extent of use and co-use was analyzed. We applied a negative binomial regression model to estimate percentage differences in semen parameters between low, medium and high PCP exposure groups. All participants were exposed to at least one PCP more than once a week, resulting in a mean number (SD) of 5.3 (2.0) PCPs currently used. Most participants (92%) were also exposed to fragranced products on a weekly basis. Little association was observed between aggregated exposure to PCPs and sperm concentration, total sperm count, semen volume, sperm motility and morphology. Despite prevalent use of multiple PCPs, we found little indication of adverse effects of aggregated overall or fragranced PCP exposure on semen quality.

Is prevention of acute pesticide poisoning effective and efficient, with Locally Adapted Personal Protective Equipment? A randomized crossover study among farmers in Chitwan, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Farmers' risk of pesticide poisoning can be reduced with personal protective equipment but in low-income countries farmers' use of such equipment is limited. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness and efficiency of Locally Adapted Personal Protective Equipment to reduce organophosphate exposure among farmers. METHODS: In a crossover study, 45 male farmers from Chitwan, Nepal, were randomly allocated to work as usual applying organophosphate pesticides wearing Locally Adapted Personal Protective Equipment or Daily Practice Clothing. For seven days before each experiment, each farmer abstained from using pesticides. Before and after organophosphate application, an interview surveys and blood tests were carried out, and analyzed with paired t-test, frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: The difference between follow-up mean for acute organophosphate poisoning symptoms in the two groups was 0.13 [95% CI -0.22;0.49] and for plasma cholinesterase (U/ml) -0.03 [95% CI -0.11;0.06]. The difference between follow-up mean minus baseline mean for acute organophosphate poisoning symptoms in the two groups was 0.29 [95% CI -0.26;0.84] and for plasma cholinesterase (U/ml) -0.01 [95% CI --0.08;0.06]. Wearing the Locally Adapted Personal Protective Equipment versus Daily Practice Clothing gave the following results, respectively: comfort 75.6% versus 100%, sense of heat 64.4% versus 31.3%, other problems 44.4% versus 33.3%, likeability 95.6% versus 77.8%. CONCLUSION: We cannot support the expectation that our farmers in Chitwan, Nepal working with Locally Adapted Personal Protective Equipment would have fewer acute organophosphate poisoning symptoms, higher plasma cholinesterase (U/mL) and find it more efficient to work with the equipment than farmers working with their Daily Practice Clothing. Based on the farmers' working behavior, compounds used, intensity and exposure duration we conclude that Locally Adapted Personal Protective Equipment does not provide additional protection during usual work practices. However, our Locally Adapted Personal Protective Equipment might offer protection from (certain) accidental overexposure. Trial Registration NCT02137317.

Semen analysis from an epidemiologic perspective.

The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) manual for semen analysis includes for the first time reference values for human semen characteristics. This paper considers whether such values will help to resolve the intensely debated data indicating temporal and geographical shifts in sperm counts and hypotheses that anthropogenic activities that result in the release of chemicals into the environment are detrimental to male reproductive health. The reasons that these reference values will not fulfil these purposes are also explained. Although established reference values for semen characteristics are of limited value in analytical epidemiologic research, the WHO guidelines are of utmost importance for supporting the development of appropriate research protocols. Moreover, in spite of its limitations, semen analysis is still a useful research tool in epidemiological research, and no superior alternatives are on the horizon.