Concentrations of urinary biomarkers and predictors of exposure to pyrethroid insecticides in young, Polish, urban-dwelling men.

Pyrethroid insecticides are a class of pesticides with multiple agricultural and residential applications. However, widespread use of these chemicals may pose a threat to human health. Biomarkers of pyrethroid exposure are frequently detected in populations around the world, but some groups may be underrepresented. Moreover, there is an ongoing debate on factors contributing to pyrethroid burden in humans. To address these problems, we measured urinary biomarkers of pyrethroid exposure in urine samples from 306 young men living in urban area of Lódz, Poland, and gathered questionnaire data to identify predictors of exposure. Limit of detection (LOD) of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was 0.1 ng/mL for all quantified pyrethroid metabolites, namely cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis-DCCA), trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (trans-DCCA), cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis-DBCA), and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA). Detection rate ranged from 32% (cis-DBCA) to 76% (trans-DCCA). Concentrations of urinary biomarkers in studied sample were in lower range of these observed in similar studies, with unadjusted geometric means (GMs) of most prevalent biomarkers, trans-DCCA and 3-PBA, equal to 0.268 and 0.228 ng/mL, respectively. As for questionnaire data, the statistical analysis revealed that non-dietary factors, especially dog ownership and pesticide use on household pets, contribute significantly to urinary trans-DCCA and 3-PBA concentrations (p ≤ 0.009). Moreover, a few dietary sources of exposure were identified, such as seeds and nuts consumption for 3-PBA (p < 0.001) and vegetable juice intake for trans-DCCA (p = 0.015). Multivariate analyses further highlighted the importance of non-dietary factors in pyrethroid exposure. Compared to other works, our results confirm widespread exposure to pyrethroids observed in other studies and stress the role of residential pyrethroid use in pyrethroid burden in humans.

Exposure to pyrethroid pesticides and ovarian reserve.

INTRODUCTION: Synthetic pyretroids are among the most common pesticides currently used worldwide. Animal studies suggest that exposure to pyrethroids could dysregulated the function of the ovary, mainly follicular development and/or synthesis of the reproductive hormone. Nevertheless data regarding the effect of exposure on female ovarian function is limited. So the aim of the present study is to assess the effect of exposure to synthetic pyrethroids on ovarian reserve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consists of 511 females aged 25-39 years attending infertility clinics for diagnostic purposes, because of couples' infertility. Validated gas chromatography ion-tap mass spectrometry method was used to assess the urinary concentrations of pyrethroid metabolites (CDDCA (cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid), TDDCA (trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid), 3PBA (3-phenoxybenzoic acid) and DBCA (cis-2,2-dibromovinyl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid)). Ovarian reserve was assessed using parameters of ovarian reserve (antral follicle count and concentrations of hormones: AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone), FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and E2 (estradiol)). RESULTS: In the present analysis the association was found between urinary concentrations of 3-PBA and levels of AMH (p = 0.03), FSH (p = 0.04) and antral follicle count (p = 0.02). Urinary level of CDCCA, TDCCA and DBCA was not associated with any examined parameters of ovarian reserve. CONCLUSIONS: Synthetic pyrethroids may affect female ovarian reserve. As this is the first, preliminary study the results need confirmation in a further detailed investigations.

Triclosan exposure and ovarian reserve.

The objective of the current analysis was to investigate the associations of urinary triclosan concentrations with parameters of ovarian reserve. Five hundred eleven female aged 25-39 years who attended the infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes were recruited. Urinary concentrations of triclosan were measured by a validated gas chromatograohy ion-tap mass spectrometry method. Parameters of ovarian reserve were: antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) levels. Urinary concentrations of triclosan decrease antral follicle count. There were no statistically significant associations between other parameters of ovarian reserve (estradiol, FSH and AMH levels) and triclosan concentrations. Triclosan exposure may negatively affect antral follicle count, a marker of ovarian reserve. As the data on triclosan exposure and ovarian reserve are scarce additional study is needed to confirm the results.

Human Semen Quality, Sperm DNA Damage, and the Level of Urinary Concentrations of 1N and TCPY, the Biomarkers of Nonpersistent Insecticides.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between environmental exposure to nonpersistent insecticides and semen quality (concentration, motility, morphology, computer-aided semen analysis [CASA] parameters, and sperm DNA damage). Urine samples ( n = 315) collected from men who attended the infertility clinic with normal semen concentration of 15 to 300 mln/ml and age under 45 years were analyzed for two metabolites (1-naphthol [1N] and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol [TCPY]) of nonpersistent insecticides. Participants provided semen, blood, and saliva samples; additionally, men filled a detailed questionnaire. The results identified that urinary TCPY concentration was significantly associated with a decrease in motility; also there was a positive association between TCPY and DNA fragmentation index (DFI). 1N concentration was negatively associated with a percentage of sperm with normal morphology and positively with one of the CASA parameters (curvilinear velocity [VCL]). The results suggest that environmental exposure to nonpersistent insecticides may have an impact on semen quality parameters and sperm DNA damage.

Air pollution from natural and anthropic sources and male fertility.

Exposure to air pollution has been clearly associated with a range of adverse health effects, including reproductive toxicity. However, a limited amount of research has been conducted to examine the association between air pollution and male reproductive outcomes, specially semen quality. We performed a systematic review (up to March 2017) to assess the impact of environmental and occupational exposure to air pollution on semen quality. Epidemiological studies focusing on air pollution exposures and male reproduction were identified by a search of the PUBMED, MEDLINE, EBSCO and TOXNET literature bases. Twenty-two studies were included which assess the impact of air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, O3, PAHs) on main semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility, morphology), CASA parameters, DNA fragmentation, sperm aneuploidy and the level of reproductive hormones. The number of studies found significant results supporting the evidence that air pollution may affect: DNA fragmentation, morphology and motility.In summary, most studies concluded that outdoor air pollution affects at least one of the assessed semen parameters. However the diversity of air pollutants and semen parameters presented in the studies included in the review and different study design caused lack of consistency in results and difficulties in comparison.

Urinary Bisphenol A Levels and Male Fertility.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production volume industrial chemical found in many consumer products. BPA is a suspected potent endocrine disruptor, with endocrine-disrupting properties demonstrated in animal studies. Few human studies have examined bisphenol A exposure in relation to male fertility and, results are divergent. The aim of the study is to examine the associations between urinary BPA concentration and male fertility. Bisphenol A urinary concentrations were measured using gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry in 315 men under 45 years of age with normal sperm concentration (⩾15 mln/ml) recruited from a male reproductive health clinic. Participants were interviewed and provided a semen sample. BPA was detected in 98.10% of urine samples, with a median concentration of 1.87 µg/l (1.63 µg/ g creatinine). A multiple linear regression analysis identified a positive association between the urinary concentrations of bisphenol A 25th-50th percentile and total sperm sex chromosome disomy ( p = .004). Also when modeled as continuous variable urinary BPA concentration increased total sperm sex chromosome disomy ( p = .01). Urinary concentration of BPA also increase the percentage of immature sperm (HDS) ( p = .018) and decrease motility ( p = .03). The study provides evidence that exposure to BPA is associated with poorer semen quality. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Environmental non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure and reproductive hormones levels in adult men.

Non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous, man-made substances present in the environment that may interfere with the natural human hormones and may exert adverse consequences on human organism. Endocrinedisrupting chemicals have been suspected to be associated with altered reproductive function in the case of males and females. Environmental endocrine-disrupting non-persistent chemicals like parabens, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphate pesticides are found in various products such as metal food cans, plastic bottles, detergents, personal care products or chemicals used for fighting against insects. The widespread distribution of these chemicals causes that humans are permanently exposed through multiple sources. The aim of this review is to summarize data linking non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure, and human, male reproductive hormones levels. The included studies were selected by searched PubMed, Web of Science and MEDLINE, original papers published from 2006 to 2016 and referring to human data were included to the review. The results of reviewed studies were not consistent, however, majority of the studies indicated that non-persistent EDCs may affect male reproductive hormones levels. Most findings suggest that exposure to environmental EDCs is negatively related to the level of testosterone (except for exposure to BPA which is positively associated). In most of the studies negative association was found between exposure to examined EDCs and free androgen index, too. Considering the suggested health effect of exposure to EDCs, more epidemiological data is needed. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(5):551-573.

Air Pollution and Human Sperm Sex Ratio.

The present study was designed to address the hypothesis that exposure to specific air pollutants may impact human sperm Y:X chromosome ratio. The study population consisted of 195 men who were attending an infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes and who had normal semen concentration of 15-300 mln/ml (WHO, 2010). Participants represented a subset of men in a multicenter parent study conducted in Poland to evaluate environmental factors and male fertility. Participants were interviewed and provided a semen sample. The Y:X ratio was assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Air quality data were obtained from the AirBase database. In multivariate analysis the significant reduction was observed in the proportion of Y/X chromosome bearing sperm and exposure to particulate matter >10 µm in aerodynamic diameter PM10 ( p = .009) and particulate matter <10 µm in aerodynamic diameter PM2.5 ( p = .023). The observed effects of a lower Y:X sperm chromosome ratio among men exposed to air pollution support the evidence that the trend of declining sex ratio in several societies over past decades has been due to exposure to air pollution; however due to limited data on this issue, the obtained results should be confirmed in longitudinal studies.

Human Semen Quality, Sperm DNA Damage, and the Level of Reproductive Hormones in Relation to Urinary Concentrations of Parabens.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between environmental exposure to parabens and semen quality parameters [main semen parameters, computer-aided semen analysis (CASA parameters], sperm chromatin structure, and the level of reproductive hormones in men [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, estradiol]. METHODS: Urine samples collected from 315 men who attended the infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes with normal semen concentration of 15 to 300 mln/mL were analyzed for five parabens concentrations using a validated gas chromatography ion-tap mass spectrometry method. Participants were interviewed and also provided a semen, saliva, and blood samples. RESULTS: Urinary parabens concentrations were significantly associated with an increase in the percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology, in sperm with high DNA stainability and a decrease in the percentage of motility and testosterone level. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first study on this topic, so the observation of the relationship between parabens and semen quality warrants further investigation.

Maternal lifestyle during pregnancy and child psychomotor development - Polish Mother and Child Cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays special attention is paid to prenatal exposures to maternal lifestyle factors and their impact on a child development. AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of modifiable maternal lifestyle factors on child neurodevelopment based on the Polish Mother and Child Cohort study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The current analysis included 538 mother-child pairs. The following factors related to maternal lifestyle were considered: smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure (based on the cotinine level in maternal saliva measured using LC-ESI+MS/MS method), alcohol consumption and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in pregnancy, pre-pregnancy BMI, and folic acid supplementations before and during pregnancy based on questionnaire data. Psychomotor development was assessed in children at the ages of one and two by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. RESULTS: Significant association was observed between prenatal exposure to tobacco constituents and a decreased child motor development in assessments performed at both ages (ß=-0.8, p=0.01; ß=-1.4, p<0.001). Maternal pre-pregnancy underweight was associated with decreased language abilities at 12 months of age (ß=-5.2, p=0.01) and cognitive and motor development at 24 months of age, for which the associations were of borderline significance (p=0.06). The recommended level of LTPA during pregnancy was beneficial for child language development at two years of age (ß=4.8, p=0.02). For alcohol and folic acid consumption there were no significant associations with any of the analyzed domains of child neurodevelopment. CONCLUSIONS: Children prenatally exposed to tobacco compounds and those of underweight mothers had a decreased psychomotor development. The recommended level of LTPA during pregnancy had positive impact on child development. These results underscore the importance of policies and public health interventions promoting healthy lifestyle among women in reproductive age and during pregnancy.