Glycol ethers and semen quality: a cross-sectional study among male workers in the Paris Municipality

Multigner, Luc; Brik, E. Ben; Arnaud, Isabelle; Haguenoer, J. M.; Jouannet, Pierre; Auger, Jacques; Eustache, Florence

doi:10.1136/oem.2005.023952

Cited by 37 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In the present study, as in the previous Belgian and Dutch studies27 31 only some 5% of urine samples measured were positive for glycol ether metabolites (data not shown). The level of detection in these studies was however about 20 times less sensitive than in the recently published study of French municipal workers where methoxyacetic acid was found in the urine of 51.1% of men thought to be currently exposed (in 2000–1) to glycol ethers and 24.5% of those not currently exposed, with ethoxyacetic acid in the urine of 11.1% and 5.7% of men 28. Thus despite the documented reductions in both relative and absolute amounts of toxic glycol ether use, low exposures still appear to be widespread.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 63%

Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers and other exposures

Cherry

Moore²,

McNamee³

et al. 2008

Occup Environ Med

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Objectives: To investigate the relation between male infertility and occupational exposures, particularly glycol ethers. Methods: A case-referent study was designed in which men attending 14 fertility clinics in 11 centres across the UK in 1999-2002 were recruited following 12 months of unprotected intercourse and without a previous semen analysis. Cases were those with low motile sperm concentration (MSC) relative to the time since their last ejaculation (MSC ,12610 6 for 3 days of abstinence). Referents were other men attending these clinics and meeting the inclusion criteria. A single semen sample was collected at the clinic and analysed at the andrology laboratory serving each hospital. Concentration was determined manually with motility assessed centrally from video recordings. Exposures and confounding factors were assessed from self-completed and nurse-interviewer questionnaires, completed prior to the results of the semen analysis. The occupational histories were assessed for exposures relative to UK norms by a team of occupational hygienists blind to case status. Results: Of 2118 men in employment at the time of the interview, 874 (41.3%) were cases. Work with organic solvents, particularly glycol ethers, in the 3 months before the first clinic visit was associated with the likelihood of low motile sperm count. Unadjusted odds ratios (OR) for moderate and high glycol ether exposure (compared with none) were 1.70 (95% CI: 1.11 to 2.61) and 2.54 (95% CI: 1.24 to 5.21). Adjustment for potential confounders (surgery to the testes, previous conception, wearing boxer shorts, drinking alcohol, employed in manual work) reduced the risk associated with glycol ether exposure: moderate OR = 1.46 (95% CI: 0.93 to 2.28), high OR = 2.25 (95% CI: 1.08 to 4.69). No other occupational risk factor was identified. Conclusions: Glycol ether exposure was related to low motile sperm count in men attending fertility clinics. This suggests that, at the time of the study, glycol ethers continued to be a hazard for male fertility.It has been recognised for many years that occupational exposure to lead could affect male fertility at sufficiently high doses. ) were identified as possibly influencing parameters (count, motility or morphology) measured in routine semen analyses. The publication of data suggesting that sperm count had decreased, and was continuing to decrease, in more industrialised countries fostered speculation that previously unrecognised occupational and environmental factors might affect fertility. This heightened awareness of possible environmental toxicants encouraged investigation, using improved semen measurement, of exposures suspected to be capable of affecting sperm. 11The study reported here was designed primarily to test one a priori hypothesis, that organic solvents, and specifically solvent mixtures containing glycol ethers, were associated with a reduced number of motile sperm. This hypothesis had arisen from an earlier study, 12 which suggested that amongst men attending fertility clinics...

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 63%

Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers and other exposures

Cherry

Moore²,

McNamee³

et al. 2008

Occup Environ Med

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“…Several studies in infertility clinics have identified occupational exposure to glycol ethers as a potential cause (e.g. Multigner et al 2007;Cherry et al 2008). Numerous studies in laboratory animals (e.g.…”

Section: Effects Of Environmental Chemicals On Spermatogenesis In Adumentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental/lifestyle effects on spermatogenesis

Sharpe

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

299

198

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The high incidence of low sperm counts in young (European) men and evidence for declining sperm counts in recent decades mean that the environmental/lifestyle impact on spermatogenesis is an important health issue. This review assesses potential causes involving adverse effects on testis development in perinatal life (primarily effects on Sertoli cell number), which are probably irreversible, or effects on the process of spermatogenesis in adulthood, which are probably mainly reversible. Several lifestyle-related (obesity, smoking) and environmental (exposure to traffic exhaust fumes, dioxins, combustion products) factors appear to negatively affect both the perinatal and adult testes, emphasizing the importance of environmental/lifestyle impacts throughout the life course. Apart from this, public concern about adverse effects of environmental chemicals (ECs) (pesticides, food additives, persistent pollutants such as DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls) on spermatogenesis in adult men are, in general, not supported by the available data for humans. Where adverse effects of ECs have been shown, they are usually in an occupational setting rather than applying to the general population. In contrast, a modern Western lifestyle (sedentary work/lifestyle, obesity) is potentially damaging to sperm production. Spermatogenesis in normal men is poorly organized and inefficient so that men are poorly placed to cope with environmental/lifestyle insults.

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“…Another study conducted in Lebanon had demonstrated that occupational exposure to harmful physical and chemical agents is associated with increased risk of male infertility [22]. Exposure to organic solvents at work associated with reduction in count of motile sperm [23], a number of solvents that are used in industry may have an adverse effect on male reproductive function like carbon disulphide that had shown to affect semen quality but in low exposures had shown no effect [24]. Previous exposure to glycol ethers in work place associated with decrease in the semen quality [25].…”

Section: Occupational Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors and Causes of Male Infertility-A Review

Mahat¹,

Arora²

2016

Biochem Anal Biochem

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Infertility is defined as inability to achieve conception in a period of one year in a couple, despite regular and adequate unprotected sexual intercourse. A male is said to be infertile if he is unable to impregnate his partner after one year of unprotected intercourse. It is an important medical and social problem in the world as regards 15% of couples are infertile and 40% are infertile because of male factor infertility. This review highlights the risk factors and some causes that are responsible for male infertility. The aim of this review is to generate information which could help in the evaluation of male infertility.

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Glycol ethers and semen quality: a cross-sectional study among male workers in the Paris Municipality

Abstract: This study suggests that most glycol ethers currently used do not impact on human semen characteristics. Those that were more prevalent from the 1960s until recently may have long lasting negative effects on human semen quality.

Cited by 37 publications

References 34 publications

Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers and other exposures

Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers and other exposures

Environmental/lifestyle effects on spermatogenesis

Risk Factors and Causes of Male Infertility-A Review

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