US EPA

2181024 

Journal Article 

Review - Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility 

Pflieger-Bruss, S; Endo, F; Droste, C; Hagemann, S; Heitkamp, S; Monsees, TK; Schill, WB 

2001 

1017-1021 

WOS:000180145600181 

In the past years, there has been an increased interest in assessing the relationship between impaired male fertility and environmental factors. Many different pollutants are found in fluids associated with the reproductive tract. Due to their very long retention time and their bio-accumulation, chlorinated hydrocarbons are of major interest. Some of these compounds have (anti)estrogenic, (anti)androgenic properties in vivo and in vitro. The regulation of male fertility is very complex and therefore different compartments and cell types have to be considered as possible targets. Data on environmental factors and human male fertility are rare and risk assessment is mostly based on the results of animal studies. The animal data on chlorinated hydrocarbons and male fertility is conflicting. So far there is no proven evidence of a correlation between exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons and reduced human male fertility.