Health Hazards of Phthalate vis a vis Idiopathic Male Infertility

Abstract

Phthalates have been used as additives in industrial products since the 1930s, and are universally considered to be ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The general population is exposed to phthalates through consumer products, as well as diet and medical treatments. Animal studies showing the existence of an correlation between some phthalates and testicular toxicity have generated public and scientific concern about the potential adverse effects of environmental changes on male reproductive health. Unprecedented declines in fertility rates and semen quality have been reported during the last half of the 20th century in developed countries and increasing interest exists on the potential relationship between exposure to environmental contaminants, including phthalates, and human male reproductive health Studies. Phthalates may be associated with altered endocrine function and adverse effects on male reproductive development and function, but human studies are limited. The aim of the present study was detection of phthalate compounds, estimation of their metabolites and correlation between semen quality, levels of reproductive biomarkers and phthalate exposure in infertile male. The present study investigated presence of phthalate compounds in serum of 152 infertile males with no known cause of infertility by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector, detected and quantified phthalate metabolites in urine samples by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and attempted to find an correlation between semen quality, reproductive biomarkers and presence of phthalates and their metabolite in the infertile males in comparison to fertile normal healthy controls in Indian population.