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The relationship between environmental exposures to phthalates and DNA damage in human sperm using the neutral comet assay.
Susan M Duty, Narendra P Singh, Manori J Silva and 6 more
Environmental Health Perspectives · 2003 · Public domain
Abstract
Phthalates are industrial chemicals widely used in many commercial applications. The general population is exposed to phthalates through consumer products as well as through diet and medical treatments. To determine whether environmental levels of phthalates are associated with altered DNA integrity in human sperm, we selected a population without identified sources of exposure to phthalates. One hundred sixty-eight subjects recruited from the Massachusetts General Hospital Andrology Laboratory provided a semen and a urine sample. Eight phthalate metabolites were measured in urine by using high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry; data were corrected for urine dilution by adjusting for specific gravity. The neutral single-cell microgel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) was used to measure DNA integrity in sperm. VisComet image analysis software was used to measure comet extent, a measure of total comet length (micrometers); percent DNA in tail (tail%), a measure of the proportion of total DNA present in the comet tail; and tail distributed moment (TDM), an integrated measure of length and intensity (micrometers). For an interquartile range increase in specific gravity-adjusted monoethyl phthalate (MEP) level, the comet extent increased significantly by 3.6 micro m [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.74-6.47]; the TDM also increased 1.2 micro m (95% CI, -0.05 to 2.38) but was of borderline significance. Monobutyl, monobenzyl, monomethyl, and mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalates were not significantly associated with comet assay parameters. In conclusion, this study represents the first human data to demonstrate that urinary MEP, at environmental levels, is associated with increased DNA damage in sperm.
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Cited by papers we hold 10
- Phthalate Concentrations and Dietary Exposure from Food Purchased in New York State · 2013No notice
- Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products · 2012No notice
- Urinary Concentrations of Parabens and Serum Hormone Levels, Semen Quality Parameters, and Sperm DNA Damage · 2010No notice
- Exposure to Phthalates and Breast Cancer Risk in Northern Mexico · 2009No notice
- Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Metabolites May Alter Thyroid Hormone Levels in Men · 2007No notice
- Concentrations of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites Are Associated with Increased Waist Circumference and Insulin Resistance in Adult U.S. Males · 2007No notice
- Integrating Biomonitoring Exposure Data into the Risk Assessment Process: Phthalates [Diethyl Phthalate and Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate] as a Case Study · 2006No notice
- Exposure to Phthalates in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Infants: Urinary Concentrations of Monoesters and Oxidative Metabolites · 2006No notice
- Personal Care Product Use Predicts Urinary Concentrations of Some Phthalate Monoesters · 2005No notice
- Decrease in Anogenital Distance among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure · 2005No notice
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