MEN with higher exposure to the substance DEHP, a so-called
phthalate, have lower sperm motility and may therefore
experience more difficulties conceiving children, according to a
Lund University study.
Phthalates is an umbrella term for a group of substances based
on phthalic acid, some of which are suspected to be endocrine
disruptors. Many phthalates are found in soft plastics in our
daily surroundings: wallpaper, sandals, nail polish, perfume,
floors, carpets and more.
Since phthalate molecules leak out of plastics, we are exposed to
it daily and absorb the chemicals through food, drink, skin
contact and inhalation. Phthalate levels can be measured by a
simple urine sample.
“We have studied metabolite levels of the phthalate DEHP
(diethylhexyl phthalate) in urine as an indicator of exposure, as
well as the semen quality of 300 men between the ages of 18
and 20. The results show that the higher metabolite levels the
men had, the lower their sperm motility was”, says Jonatan
Axelsson, researcher at the Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Lund University.
For the one quarter of the men with the lowest levels of
exposure, 57 per cent of the sperm cells were moving forward,
compared to 46 per cent for the quarter of the men with the
highest levels of exposure.
The study is the only one of its kind that analyses the
connection for the same metabolites in men from the general
population, and that simultaneously makes adjustments based
on the concentration of the urine and how much time had
passed since the last ejaculation. Men from the general
population may be the most relevant to study, because men
with fertility problems (who are usually studied) often have
reduced semen quality, including sperm motility, which may be
caused by many different things.
phthalate, have lower sperm motility and may therefore
experience more difficulties conceiving children, according to a
Lund University study.
Phthalates is an umbrella term for a group of substances based
on phthalic acid, some of which are suspected to be endocrine
disruptors. Many phthalates are found in soft plastics in our
daily surroundings: wallpaper, sandals, nail polish, perfume,
floors, carpets and more.
Since phthalate molecules leak out of plastics, we are exposed to
it daily and absorb the chemicals through food, drink, skin
contact and inhalation. Phthalate levels can be measured by a
simple urine sample.
“We have studied metabolite levels of the phthalate DEHP
(diethylhexyl phthalate) in urine as an indicator of exposure, as
well as the semen quality of 300 men between the ages of 18
and 20. The results show that the higher metabolite levels the
men had, the lower their sperm motility was”, says Jonatan
Axelsson, researcher at the Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Lund University.
For the one quarter of the men with the lowest levels of
exposure, 57 per cent of the sperm cells were moving forward,
compared to 46 per cent for the quarter of the men with the
highest levels of exposure.
The study is the only one of its kind that analyses the
connection for the same metabolites in men from the general
population, and that simultaneously makes adjustments based
on the concentration of the urine and how much time had
passed since the last ejaculation. Men from the general
population may be the most relevant to study, because men
with fertility problems (who are usually studied) often have
reduced semen quality, including sperm motility, which may be
caused by many different things.
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