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HERO ID
799699
Reference Type
Journal Article
Subtype
Abstract
Title
Phthalates and male reproductive health: new research directions
Author(s)
Hauser, R
Year
2007
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
American Journal of Epidemiology
ISSN:
0002-9262
EISSN:
1476-6256
Report Number
DART/TER/7000657
Volume
165
Issue
11 Suppl
Page Numbers
S41
Language
English
Abstract
Phthalates, diesters of phthalic acid, are multifunctional chemicals widely used in personal care products, in food packaging and processing materials, and to soften a wide range of plastics, including medical products such as polyvinyl chloride blood and intravenous bags. Their ubiquitous use has resulted in widespread general population exposurevia dietary ingestion, dermal absorption, inhalation, and parenteral exposure frommedical devices containing phthalates. Although toxicological studies have consistently shown that somephthalates are reproductive and developmental toxicants, there is limited epidemiologic data on the potential effects of phthalate exposure on male reproductive function. Two recent human studies explored associations of urinary concentrations of phthalateswith semen quality and spermDNAdamage. In a U.S. study, associations were found between monobutyl and monobenzyl phthalate and lower sperm concentration and motility. In addition, monoethyl andmonethylhexyl phthalatewere associatedwith increased sperm DNA damage. However, a Swedish study did not find relationships between these phthalates and semen quality or spermDNAdamage. In the presentation, data from these two primary studies will be discussed and potential explanations will be offered for the inconsistent results. In the field of reproductive environmental health there remain many unanswered questions regarding the impact of the environment on male reproductive health. Suggested needs include studies that target populations with high exposure to chemicals, including phthalates. We also need to identify susceptibility factors and critical exposure windows (life stages) that may increase a mans risk of infertility. Finally,we need to developmethods to better studymixtures of chemicals and develop methods to assess clinical reproductive outcomes of human exposure to the ever-growing list of chemicals.
Keywords
Humans; Male; Phthalic Acids/TOXICITY; Semen/DRUG EFFECTS/METABOLISM; Sperm Motility/DRUG EFFECTS; DNA Damage; Reproduction/DRUG EFFECTS; NO CAS RN
Conference Name
35th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology
Tags
•
Phthalates – Targeted Search for Epidemiological Studies
Source – all searches
Toxnet
Excluded
Source – no date limit through June 2013 (Private)
ToxNet
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