Perfluorooctanoic acid, an environmental toxin, confers no adverse effect on semen parameters

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is used in the production of numerous industrial and consumer products. It is an environmental toxin previously linked to delayed time to conception in women, prostate cancer and decreased sperm counts in men. The object of this study was to determine if PFOA accumulates in seminal fluid and if it has an effect on sperm parameters in men. DESIGN: Prospective study of males presenting for routine semen analysis (SA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All male participants completed a questionnaire regarding exposure to products containing PFOA and other environmental toxins. Both serum and seminal fluid samples were obtained. SA was performed and analyzed by WHO criteria. Serum and seminal fluid concentrations of PFOA were determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Scatter plots and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between serum and seminal PFOA levels and semen parameters. RESULTS: Thirty-seven men participated in the study. PFOA was detected in the plasma of all study subjects with a range of 2.1-103.7 ppb and mean concentration of 21.3 ± 24.5 ppb. Four subjects (10.8%) had detectable levels of PFOA in the seminal fluid with a range of 1.35-12.05 ppb. PFOA had no effect on sperm count, motility, or morphology. CONCLUSION: PFOA was detectable in the serum of men who presented for routine SA at concentrations higher than previously reported in the general population. This is an important finding because PFOA does not degrade in the environment and persists in human tissue with a long half life. This study confirmed that PFOA accumulates in seminal fluid. However, despite seemingly high concentrations of PFOA, exposure was not associated with adverse effects on sperm parameters. Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine if long term adverse consequences of PFOA accumulation in seminal fluid could possibly include infertility, formation of testicular tumor, or alterations in the production of gonadal steroid hormones.