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Follicular fluid and blood levels of persistent organic pollutants and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies
- Source :
- Environmental research. 208
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals resistant to degradation and have been shown to have adverse effects on reproductive health in wildlife and humans. Although regulations have reduced their levels, they are still ubiquitously present and pose a global concern. Here, we studied a cohort of 185 women aged 21-43 years with a median of 2 years of infertility who were seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment at the Carl von Linne Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. We analyzed the levels of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the blood and follicular fluid (FF) samples collected during ovum pick-up. Impact of age on chemical transfer from blood to FF was analyzed. Associations of chemicals, both individually and as a mixture, to 10 ART endpoints were investigated using linear, logistic, and weighted quantile sum regression, adjusted for age, body mass index, parity, fatty fish intake and cause of infertility. Out of the 30 chemicals, 20 were detected in more than half of the blood samples and 15 in FF. Chemical transfer from blood to FF increased with age. Chemical groups in blood crossed the blood-follicle barrier at different rates: OCPs > PCBs > PFASs. Hexachlorobenzene, an OCP, was associated with lower anti-Miillerian hormone, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. PCBs and PFASs were associated with higher antral follicle count and ovarian response as measured by ovarian sensitivity index, but also with lower embryo quality. As a mixture, similar findings were seen for the sum of PCBs and PFASs. Our results suggest that age plays a role in the chemical transfer from blood to FF and that exposure to POPs significantly associates with ART outcomes. We strongly encourage further studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of reproductive effects of POPs in humans.
- Subjects :
- Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Ovarian sensitivity index
Embryo quality
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi
Follicular fluid
Medical and Health Sciences
Biochemistry
Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin
03 medical and health sciences
Persistent Organic Pollutants
0302 clinical medicine
Pregnancy
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Health Sciences
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
Live birth
Animals
Humans
Pesticides
030304 developmental biology
General Environmental Science
2. Zero hunger
0303 health sciences
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
Persistent organic pollutants
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Hälsovetenskaper
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
3. Good health
Follicular Fluid
13. Climate action
Environmental Pollutants
Female
Assisted reproductive technologies
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10960953
- Volume :
- 208
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Environmental research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f90b3c10f37012c180f0e47bfcb2227b