Organophosphorous pesticide exposures and sperm quality

• Published in: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 75 - 79
• Main Authors: Perry, Melissa J., Venners, Scott A., Chen, Xing, Liu, Xue, Tang, Genfu, Xing, Houxun, Barr, Dana Boyd, Xu, Xiping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01-01-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; China; Chinese; Cohort Studies; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones; Humans; Insecticides; Male; Medical sciences; Odds Ratio; Organophosphorous; Organophosphorus Compounds - adverse effects; Organophosphorus Compounds - urine; Pesticides; Pesticides - adverse effects; Pesticides - urine; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; Reproduction; Semen quality; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - physiology; Teratology. Teratogens; Toxicology; Young Adult; Asia; China; China, People's Rep; DEDTP; OP; DETP; OR; DMTP; DMP; Pesticides; Insecticides; Male; Semen quality; Hormones; DEP; DAP; Reproduction; DMDTP; Organophosphorous; Chinese; Hormone; Biological fluid; Spermatozoa; Insecticide; Semen; Exposure; Germinal cell; Quality; Organophosphorus compounds
• ISSN: 0890-6238; 1873-1708
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2010.08.006

▶ Odds of low sperm concentration and motility grew with increased DMP concentration. ▶ Sample DETP–DMP urinary concentrations above that of US general population. ▶ Association seen at levels lower than seen in previous occupational studies.
Many Americans are exposed to low levels of organophosphorous (OP) pesticides. It is unclear whether these exposures impact sperm production. We investigated whether there was an association between urinary OP insecticide metabolites and sperm concentration and motility in newly married men from a rural area of eastern People's Republic of China. Ninety-four cases and 95 controls were included based on their median residual value of sperm concentration and motility after adjusting for relevant covariates. Their urine was analyzed for six dialkylphosphate (DAP) compounds. After adjustment for demographic and exposure variables, the odds of being a case were greater (odds ratio
=
1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.65) in men with higher urinary concentrations of dimethylphosphate (DMP) compared to men with lower levels. No significant differences between cases and controls were found among the other DAP concentrations. DMP exposure and sperm concentration and motility should be explored further in environmental exposure studies.