PERFLUORINATED CHEMICALS AND SEMEN QUALITY, THE LIFE Study

Background and Aims: The relation between persistent environmental chemicals and semen quality is still evolving, given that much of the available evidence relies upon couples seeking infertility treatment. We assessed the relation between perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and semen quality in the context of lifestyle among male partners participating in a cohort of couples attempting to become pregnant without an infertility history. Methods: We utilized population-based sampling strategies to recruit 501 couples discontinuing contraception for purposes of becoming pregnant from two geographic regions with reported environmental exposures to persistent pollutants. Upon enrollment into the cohort, couples completed baseline interviews and anthropometric assessments and provided blood for the quantification of 8 serum PFCs (perfluorosulfonates, perfluorocarboxylates and perfluorosulfonamides) using tandem mass spectrometry, 2005-2009. Men collected semen samples at home following two days of abstinence, and ...