Urinary concentrations of organophosphate esters in relation to semen quality: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 865; p. 161202
• Main Authors: Li, Yaping, Luo, Dan, Zhao, Xiaoya, Wang, Han, Zheng, Zhiyi, Liu, Jun, Liu, Chong, Wang, Hui, Chen, Yingjun, Shang, Yinzhu, Lu, Wenqing, Mei, Surong, Wang, Yixin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.03.2023
• Subjects: Co-exposure; Cross-Sectional Studies; Esters; Flame Retardants - analysis; Humans; Male; Organophosphate esters; Organophosphates; Phosphates; Quantile g-computation; Semen; Semen Analysis; Semen quality; Sperm Motility; Urine samples; Organophosphate esters; Urine samples; Semen quality; Quantile g-computation; Co-exposure
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161202

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers in consumer products. Toxicological studies have indicated that OPEs may affect male reproductive health, but human evidence is inconclusive. In this study, we explored associations of individual and mixtures of OPE exposure with semen quality among 1015 Chinese men from an infertility clinic. After adjusting for potential confounders, we observed that higher diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) and [Bis(2-methylphenyl) phosphate (BMPP)] exposure was associated with increased odds ratios (ORs) of having below-reference total sperm count. Higher bis (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP) exposure was associated with increased ORs of having below-reference progressive motility and total motility. For semen quality parameters modeled as continuous outcomes, inverse associations with individual OPE were still observed. In addition, urinary 1-hydroxy-2-propyl bis (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPHIPP) concentrations were inversely associated with the percentage of normal morphology while positively associated with the percentage of abnormal heads. Quantile g-computation regression analyses showed that exposure to higher OPE mixtures was associated with lower total sperm motility and normal morphology. Our results indicated that both individual and mixtures of OPE exposure were associated with reduced semen quality. [Display omitted] •DPHP and BMPP were observed associated with lower total sperm count.•BBOEP was related to reduced progressive motility and total motility.•BCIPHIPP was associated with the increased percentage of abnormal morphology.•Qgcomp models revealed that OPE mixtures were related to declined semen quality.