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Urinary metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate relation to sperm motility, reactive oxygen species generation, and apoptosis in polyvinyl chloride workers

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Abstract

Purpose

To measure the concentrations of urinary di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) workers and a control group for determining the relationship of DEHP exposure to semen quality, sperm reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and sperm apoptosis.

Methods

We assessed the metabolites of DEHP, namely urinary mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and semen quality, such as sperm concentration, motility, morphology, ROS generation, and DNA damage by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay obtained from 47 workers employed within two PVC pellet plants and 15 graduate students in Taiwan.

Results

Sperm concentration and motility were significantly affected in the high-exposure group. The percentage and intensity of sperm ROS generation were higher in the high-exposure group than those in the control group. After adjustment for age, smoking status, and coffee consumption, the decrease in sperm motility was inversely associated with the concentration of MEHP (β = −0.549, p = 0.0085), MEHHP (β = −0.155, p = 0.0074), and MEOHP (β = −0.201, p = 0.0041). Moreover, sperm apoptosis and ROS generation were positively associated with MEHHP and MEOHP concentration, respectively.

Conclusions

This was the first study to explore the associations between levels of DEHP exposure, sperm motility, ROS generation, and apoptosis. The results suggested that urinary MEHHP and MEOHP were sensitive biomarkers for reflecting the relationship between DEHP exposure and semen quality.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

CI:

Confidence interval

DCHF-DA:

Dichlorofluorescin diacetate

DEHP:

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

GM:

Geometric mean

GSD:

Geometric standard deviation

HE:

Hydroethidine

MEHP:

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

MEHHP:

Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate

MEOHP:

Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate

NADPH:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

PI:

Propidium iodide

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride

QC:

Quality control

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SCSA:

Sperm chromatin DNA structure assay

SD:

Standard deviation

TUNEL:

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH98-M306) and the National Science Council (NSC 100-2314-B-327-001) of Taiwan.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, No. 2, Jhuoyue Rd., Nanzih District, Kaohsiung City, 811, Taiwan

    Li-Ping Huang & Ping-Chi Hsu

  2. Department of Nursing, Chung-Jen College of Nursing, Health Sciences and Management, Chiayi City, Taiwan

    Li-Ping Huang

  3. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan

    Ching-Chang Lee & Jer-Pei Fan

  4. Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Po-Hsiu Kuo

  5. Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Tung-Sheng Shih

  6. Graduate Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Tung-Sheng Shih

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  1. Li-Ping Huang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ping-Chi Hsu.

Additional information

Li-Ping Huang and Ching-Chang Lee have contributed equally to this work.

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Huang, LP., Lee, CC., Fan, JP. et al. Urinary metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate relation to sperm motility, reactive oxygen species generation, and apoptosis in polyvinyl chloride workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 87, 635–646 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0905-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0905-6

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