Semen quality in relation to pesticides

Semen quality in relation to exposure to currently used pesticides
By:Shanna H. Swan, PhD
University of Missouri-Columbia
6th International Symposium on Environmental Endocrine Disrupters
Sendai, Japan

Background
Normal morphology
Motile sperm
Concentration

The Study for Future Families (SFF)
SFF Recruitment:
Summary of Semen Parameters
We considered these factors
o Age
o Smoking
o History of infertility
o Body mass index (BMI)
o History of STDS

* Ethnicity
* Recent fever
* Abstinence time
* Analysis time
Differences in semen quality were unchanged by adjustment for these factors
How does mid-Missouri differ from Minneapolis ?
% Acres in farms and use of pesticides
Herbicides
Insecticides
Fertilizer
Pesticides applied (acres)
Study hypothesis
Pesticides found more often in MN
Remaining analyses
Pesticides detected more often in cases than controls Percent of men with pesticide > LOD
Two pesticides were weakly associated with sperm count
Dose response for alachlor in MO men
Drinking water is a likely source of exposure
Examining pesticides and semen quality in a second agricultural center
Use of pesticides in IA is greater than MO
Semen quality in Iowa City and other SFF centers
What is needed?
* Urinary pesticide levels in IA men
* Serum levels of pesticides to examine total exposure
* Tap water pesticide levels
* Replication of study in other areas and countries
The Study for Future Families

Semen quality.ppt