In an EU-funded research project published in March 2006, scientists have explored the potential association between altered human sperm DNA integrity and the presence of POPs in blood. Through the INUENDO project, a cross-sectional study was carried out involving 707 adult males from Greenland (Inuit population), Sweden, Poland and Ukraine, which represents the largest survey ever attempted in molecular epidemiology. Serum levels of CB-153, a PCB congener which represents the overall PCB concentration, and pp’-DDE were determined.

The results of the study show that an increase risk of sperm DNA damage is associated with elevated serum levels of CB-153 across all exposure ranges for the European men involved in the study, reaching statistical significance in the highest exposure group. Therefore, dietary exposure to PCB might have a negative impact on reproductive male capabilities. On the contrary, no association was observed for DDE, at least in the studied exposure ranges. These findings agree with the three previous studies that have investigated the association between this compounds and the sperm genetic damage in humans.

Persistent organic pollutants (POP), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and the main DDT metabolite, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (pp’-DDE), have an anthropogenic origin and are widely spread in the environment. The compounds accumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms and are concentrated through dietary exposure in high rank predators, including men. Even though their use has been banned in Europe, they can still be found in human blood, fatty tissues, or breast milk. Previous studies on wildlife and laboratory animals have shown that these compounds have adverse effects on the reproductive and endocrine functions, although their impact on male fertility is still unknown. There is limited and contradictory epidemiological data on whether PCB, and possibly pp’-DDE, can damage human sperm genetic integrity, which is essential for the accurate transmission of the genetic information.

For more information, please visit the INUENDO project website.