Environmental Hexachlorobenzene exposure and human male reproductive function.

Summary, in English

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a persistent environmental fungicide that may disrupt androgen regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between HCB levels and biomarkers of male reproductive function. 589 spouses of pregnant women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine were enrolled between 2002 and 2004. The men provided semen and blood samples and were interviewed. HCB was measured in serum by gas chromatography. The mean serum concentrations of HCB were higher in Ukraine (182.3 ng/g lipid) and Greenland (79.0 ng/g lipid) compared to Poland (14.2 ng/g lipid). Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and Free Androgen Index (FAI) were associated with HCB in men from Ukraine and Poland. This study spanning large differences in environmental HCB exposure levels shows a positive association for SHBG and negative association for FAI with high serum levels of HCB in fertile men, but without major consequences for semen quality and the Inuit study population.

• Author: Ina Olmer Specht; Jens Peter Ellekilde Bonde; Gunnar Toft; Aleksander Giwercman; Marcello Spanò; Davide Bizzaro; Gian Carlo Manicardi; Bo A Jönsson; Wendie A Robbins
• Department/s: Reproductive medicine, Malmö; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University
• Publishing year: 2015
• Language: English
• Pages: 8-14
• Publication/Series: Reproductive Toxicology
• Volume: 58
• Issue: Jul 22
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26210665?dopt=Abstract; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.07.074
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Environmental Health and Occupational Health; Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
• Status: Published
• Research group: Reproductive medicine, Malmö
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1873-1708