Relación entre la exposición a disruptores endocrinos durante el período fetal y perinatal y la tasa de oligospermia

Abstract

The relationship between residential exposure to endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) during fetal and perinatal life and the increase in the rate of oligospermia has not been well characterized yet. This study investigates this potential association by comparing the levels of EDCs in breast milk of lactating women with the rate of oligospermia previously reported in two regions of Spain with marked differences in industrial development. Thirty-eight EDCs were evaluated in 69 breast milk samples from women from Catalonia (n = 34) and Galicia (n = 35). The analyses were performed by gas chromatography electron ionization - mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS), and liquid chromatography-quadrupole-linear ion trap-tandem (LC-QqLIT MS). The average concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls, organo chlorinated pesticides, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in breast milk samples from Catalonia and Galicia were respectively 13, 5 and 0,3 ng/g, and 3, 2,5 and < 0,1 ng/g of fat. In conclusion, the concentration of endocrine disruptor compounds in breast milk correlated with the rate of oligospermia in these regions and provides additional support to the hypothesis that exposure to EDCs during fetal and perinatal life could lead to male infertility.