Main Researcher: Hanne Frederiksen
Other Researchers: Anna-Maria Andersson, Niels Jørgensen and Niels
Erik Skakkebæk
Objective:
- To elucidate the
extent to which human sperm cells are directly exposed to UV filters via their
presence in seminal fluid.
- To elucidate the
distribution of UV filters in seminal fluid, serum and urine samples to a)
increase our knowledge on distribution of these substances in the body and b)
to investigate if prospectively it will be possible to provide a qualified
estimate of exposure of sperm cells in the seminal fluid based on measurements
in urine or serum.
- To elucidate if UV
filter exposure could be associated with biological endpoints such as the level
of male reproductive hormones and semen quality.
Description: In total nine chemical UV filters; benzophenone
(BP), benzophenone-1 (BP-1), benzophenone-2 (BP-2), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 5-cholro-2-hydroxybenzophenone
(BP-7), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HBP), 4-methyl-benzophenone (4-MBP), 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor
(4-MBC) and 3-benzylidene
camphor (3-BC) were analyzed by TurboFolow-LC-MS/MS
in urine, serum and seminal fluid
samples from 309 young Danish men from the general population; for each man the sample types were collected within one hour. The samples were collected
during February-December 2013.
Outcome: BP-3 and BP-1 were
detectable in nearly all urine samples and also present in the highest
concentrations. BP and 4-HBP were detectable in almost half of the urine
samples. The other UV filters; BP-2, BP-7, MBP-4, 4-MBC and 3-BC were either
not detectable or only measurable in very few samples and in very low
concentrations in the urine. The most frequently detectable UV filters in serum
were 4-HBP, 4-MBP and BP-3 and in seminal fluid BP, BP-1, BP-3 and 4-MBP were
detectable in a subset of samples.
Status: Ongoing statistical analyses
will in nearest future show whether UV filter concentrations measured in serum and
urine could be correlated with levels observed in seminal plasma and thereby be
a proxy for direct semen cell exposure. Furthermore the statistical analyses of
UV filter exposure associated to biological outcomes are initiated.
Publications: in preparation
This
project has been co-funded by Center for Endocrine Disruption (CeHoS)