Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Male Reproduction

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that were widely used in the mid-20th century. Though their production and use was banned by most countries several decades ago, the general population continues to be exposed due to the persistence and bioaccumulation of PCBs. A number of human epidemiological studies have assessed the relationship between environmental PCB exposure and markers of male reproductive health, namely semen quality parameters (sperm concentration, motility, and morphology), sperm DNA integrity (DNA damage or chromatin fragmentation), and circulating reproductive hormone levels. Despite a wide range of study designs and locations, measurement methods, and PCB exposure levels, reports of inverse associations between PCBs and sperm motility have been consistent which may suggest a lack of exposure threshold for a PCB-related effect on sperm motility. Several studies have also reported inverse associations between PCBs and circulating testosterone levels in men, though the specific form of testosterone (i.e. total, bound, or free testosterone) associated with exposure has not been fully consistent between studies. In conclusion, although PCBs are no longer used and can be considered a legacy chemical, concerns regarding altered male fertility in relation to PCBs remain due to the existing human data demonstrating inverse associations with markers of male reproductive function coupled with recent evidence for continued population exposure.

Mortality among 24,865 workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in three electrical capacitor manufacturing plants: A ten-year update

“…The observed mortality differences between male and female workers may be due to differences in work assignments, differences in physiology, and differences in how their bodies reacted to PCBs (Eng et al, 2011;Messing and Mager Stellman, 2006;Silvaggio and Mattison, 1994). Since various PCB congeners have estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, androgenic or anti-androgenic properties (Diamanti-Kandarakis et al, 2009), it follows that female-male hormonal differences might be associated with the activity of PCBs in the body (Meeker and Hauser, 2010;Salehi et al, 2008).…”

Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

“…The latter finding also suggests that effects may be different for males and females. Exposure to PCBs is also thought to reduce male fertility [53]. Moreover, increased PCB concentrations were related to lower testosterone levels in the blood of Native American male adults [54] and to reduced testosterone levels in female neonates and reduced estradiol levels in male neonates [55].…”

Uptake and depuration of PCB-153 in edible shrimp Palaemonetes varians and human health risk assessment

“…These compounds may produce immune, oxidative and genotoxic effects in aquatic organisms of different trophic levels, such as bivalves, crabs and fishes (Orbea et al, 2002;van der Oost et al, 2003). In humans, for example, these compounds have been linked with adverse health alterations, including skin lesions, neuro and immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity and chronic reproductive effects, with an increasing risk of infertility (Çok and Şartiroğlu, 2004;Jaikanlaya et al, 2009;Meeker and Hauser, 2010). Thus, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms underlying bioaccumulation and detoxification of the marine fauna, particularly of species playing key role in the ecosystems 0 structure and functioning and simultaneously with great socio-economic interest, like the edible shrimp P. varians.…”