Associations of in Utero Exposure to Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids with Human Semen Quality and Reproductive Hormones in Adult Men

Abstract

Background: Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs), persistent chemicals with unique water-, dirt-, and oil-repellent properties, are suspected of having endocrine-disrupting activity. The PFAA compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are found globally in humans; because they readily cross the placental barrier, in utero exposure may be a cause for concern.Objectives: We investigated whether in utero exposure to PFOA and PFOS affects semen quality, testicular volume, and reproductive hormone levels.Methods: We recruited 169 male offspring (19–21 years of age) from a pregnancy cohort established in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1988–1989, corresponding to 37.6% of the eligible sons. Each man provided a semen sample and a blood sample. Semen samples were analyzed for sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, and morphology, and blood samples were used to measure reproductive hormones. As a proxy for in utero exposure, PFOA and PFOS were measured in maternal blood samples from pregnancy week 30.Results: Multivariable linear regression analysis suggested that in utero exposure to PFOA was associated with lower adjusted sperm concentration (ptrend = 0.01) and total sperm count (ptrend = 0.001) and with higher adjusted levels of luteinizing hormone (ptrend = 0.03) and follicle-stimulating hormone (ptrend = 0.01). PFOS did not appear to be associated with any of the outcomes assessed, before or after adjustment.Conclusions: The results suggest that in utero exposure to PFOA may affect adult human male semen quality and reproductive hormone levels.

Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFASs): Environmental challenges

“…No consistent association of PFAA exposure was seen with DNA damage in spermatozoa, apoptosis or reproductive hormones in serum, sperm motility or other semen quality parameters [325,326]. However, in utero exposure to PFOA (but not PFOS) may affect sperm count and concentration, and reproductive hormone levels in adults [327].…”

PFAS in Paper and Board for Food Contact

“…However, a recent prospective study shows an association between in utero exposure to PFOA and semen quality and reproductive hormones in male offspring 20 years later. PFOA was associated with lower total sperm count and a lower adjusted sperm concentration, and PFOA was also associated with higher adjusted levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), indicating that in utero exposure to PFOA may be contributing to reduced semen quality in adult men (Vested et al, 2013). Many of these effects are most probably induced by hormonal changes.…”

Examining confounding by diet in the association between perfluoroalkyl acids and serum cholesterol in pregnancy

“…Dietary exposures, possibly through indirect contamination from food packaging materials, have been suggested to be the dominant source of PFAAs exposure in humans (D'eon and Mabury, 2011;D'Hollander et al, 2010;Fromme et al, 2009). Of these compounds perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are found in highest concentrations in humans and because of their persistent nature and potential toxicity, these compounds may influence human health (Grandjean et al, 2012;Halldorsson et al, 2012;Lau et al, 2007;Vested et al, 2013).…”