Seminal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and sperm quality impairment: from toxic target to rescue

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 200; p. 109533
• Main Authors: Shi, Lan, Tao, Lin, Zong, Yating, Gao, Chang, Han, Bing, Gao, Tianrui, Huang, Chenghui, Liu, Bingjie, Wu, Huan, Tang, Dongdong, Liu, Yajing, Wang, Hua, Xu, De-Xiang, Cao, Yunxia, Huang, Yichao, He, Xiaojin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2025; Elsevier
• Subjects: 6:2 Cl-PFESA; Active nutrition; Adult; Alkanesulfonic Acids; dietary supplements; environment; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Fluorocarbons - analysis; Fluorocarbons - toxicity; Humans; Male; Mixture effect; perfluorohexane sulfonic acid; perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; PFAS; PFHxS; protective effect; regression analysis; risk; sample size; semen; Semen - chemistry; Semen Analysis; Sperm quality; Spermatozoa - drug effects; toxicity; Sperm quality; Mixture effect; 6:2 Cl-PFESA; Active nutrition; PFHxS; PFAS
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109533

[Display omitted] •30 legacy and emerging PFAS in semen samples were measured from 1206 adults.•Seminal PFAS were linked to asthenospermia in single and mixture analyses.•The effect of PFAS is more profound on sperm quality rather than quantity.•Antioxidant supplements may mitigate adverse effects from PFAS exposure. The link between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and impaired sperm quality has been disputable, partially attributed to the relatively small sample size and the lack of knowledge on exposure status in the microenvironment of target site. Here, we quantified 30 legacy and emerging PFAS in semen samples from 1206 men and enquired on their habitual nutritional supplementation. Eleven contaminant congeners were detected in over 50 % of the semen samples, topped by two legacy congeners PFOA and PFOS (median: PFOA = 0.191 and PFOS = 0.249 ng/mL). Logistic regression identified significantly positive associations between seminal PFAS and asthenospermia for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and 6:2 Cl-PFESA (all P < 0.05). Quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) model demonstrated positive overall relationship between PFAS mixtures and asthenospermia, predominantly contributed by 6:2 Cl-PFESA (qgcomp weight: 0.308) and PFHxS (qgcomp weight: 0.293), consistent with the results of generalized weighted quantile sum model, calling for more research on these PFAS replacements. Subgroup interaction analysis indicated that nutritional supplementation, primarily containing antioxidants, reduced the risk of asthenospermia and oligoasthenospermia associated with PFAS exposure, showing a protective effect. Our work demonstrated that exposure to PFOS/PFOA and their chemical replacements in semen may impact profoundly on sperm quality, mostly contributed by the early replacements 6:2 Cl-PFESA and PFHxS, and the effect of which may be reduced by active nutritional supplementation strategy for the general public.