BACKGROUND: This study examined potential associations between exposure to episodes of air pollution and alterations in semen quality. The air pollution, resulting from combustion of coal for industry and home heating in the Teplice district of the Czech Republic, was much higher during the winter than at other times of year with peaks exceeding US air quality standards. METHODS: Young men from Teplice were sampled up to seven times over 2 years allowing evaluation of semen quality after periods of exposure to both low and high air pollution. Routine semen analysis (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) and tests for sperm aneuploidy and chromatin integrity were performed, comparing measurements within each subject. Exposure was classified as high or low based on data from ambient air pollution monitoring. RESULTS: Using repeated measures analysis, a significant association was found between exposure to periods of high air pollution (at or above the upper limit of US air quality standards) and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation according to sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Other semen measures were not associated with air pollution. CONCLUSION: Exposure to intermittent air pollution may result in sperm DNA damage and thereby increase the rates of male-mediated infertility, miscarriage, and other adverse reproductive outcomes.

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Episodic air pollution is associated with increased DNA fragmentation in human sperm without other changes in semen quality

Polar and nonpolar fractions prepared from an organic extract of inhalable air particulate material collected from an urban location in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, were examined for estrogen and Ah receptor-mediated activities using in vitro gene expression assays. The presence of estrogenic activity was determined using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells transiently transfected with a Gal4-human estrogen receptor chimera and a Gal4-regulated luciferase reporter gene. 2,3,7,8-Tetracholordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-like activity was detected using Hepa 1c1c7 cells transiently transfected with a CYP1A1-regulated reporter gene (pGudLuc 1.1). Significant estrogenic and TCDD-like activity was detected in the crude extract and in the nonpolar fractions. Results from the analyses of nine environmentally prevalent polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) indicated that PAH might be significant contributors to the observed activity. Surprisingly, three PAH, namely benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, and benz[a]anthracene, were found...

Evidence of Estrogen- and TCDD-Like Activities in Crude and Fractionated Extracts of PM10 Air Particulate Material Using in Vitro Gene Expression Assays

Teplice Program : impact of air pollution on human health

The aim of the Teplice Program is to investigate and assess the impact of air pollution on the health of the population in the district of Teplice, Czech Republic. Characterization of the air pollutants demonstrated unusually high concentrations during winter inversions of fine particles dominated by acidic sulfates, genotoxic organic compounds, and toxic trace elements. The major source of airborne fine particles is the burning of coal for heating and power. Human exposure and biomarker studies demonstrated large seasonal variations in air pollution within the Teplice District and higher seasonal average pollution levels than the comparative district, Prachatice. Personal exposures to fine particles and organic carcinogens [e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)] were correlated with excretion of PAH metabolites in urine, several trace metals in blood, and DNA adducts in white blood cells. Respiratory and neurobehavioral studies of school children were conducted using questionnaires and clinical measures. A significantly higher prevalence of adverse respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function were found in the Teplice district than in Prachatice. The neurobehavioral studies indicated significantly higher teacher referrals for clinical assessment in Teplice, but the majority of objective performance measures did not differ. Reproductive studies were conducted in both males and females. A study of the effects of exposure on pregnancy and birth found an excess prevalence of low birth weight and premature births in Teplice; these adverse effects were more common in infants conceived in the winter and whose mothers were smokers. Based on questionnaires and medical examination, the reproductive development of young men was not different between districts and seasons, however, measures of semen quality suggest that exposure to high levels of air pollution are associated with transient decrements in semen quality.

Teplice program--the impact of air pollution on human health

The DNA adduct levels in total white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes (LYM) isolated from the blood of the same individuals were evaluated using the -postlabelling assay for bulky aromatic adducts. In this study, 68 male coke oven workers and 56 machine workers as a matched control were enrolled. Personal monitors were used to evaluate exposure to eight carcinogenic PAHs, including B[a]P, during an 8-h working shift. The exposure among coke oven workers ranged widely from 0.6 to 547 μg/m3 and from 2 to 62,107 ng/m3, for carcinogenic PAHs and B[a]P, respectively. The respective values in controls were from 0.07–1.64 μg/m3 and from 1–63 ng/m3. A significant correlation between WBC– and LYM–DNA adduct levels was found (r=0.591, P<0.001). DNA adduct levels in both WBC and LYM were significantly elevated in coke oven workers as compared with controls, but adduct levels were generally low (WBC: medians 2.61 vs. 1.83; LYM: 2.47 vs. 1.65 adducts/108 nucleotides). LYM–DNA adduct levels were significantly higher for smokers as compared with nonsmokers in both the exposed and control groups. No such differences in WBC–DNA adduct levels were observed. Positive significant correlations were found at the individual level between DNA adducts in both cell types and carcinogenic PAHs and/or B[a]P in the inhaled air (r=0.38–0.45, P<0.001). A significant correlation at the individual level between LYM–DNA adducts and urinary cotinine was also observed (r=0.37, P<0.001). No differences in DNA adduct levels could be attributed to GSTM1 or NAT2 genotype in either group. Nor was there any clear association of DNA adduct levels with combined GSTM1/NAT2 genotypes. The effect of personal exposure to carcinogenic PAHs on DNA adduct levels in both cell types was also investigated using a logistic regression model with adjustment for possible modulating effect of confounders (smoking, GSTM1, NAT2, age, plasma levels of vitamins A and E, body mass index and diet). The results showed that coke oven workers had a significantly (P<0.05) increased adjusted Odds Ratio (OR=4.2 and 3.9 for WBC and LYM–DNA adducts) for occurrence of higher DNA adduct levels as compared to controls. The results also showed that the relative risk of an increased prevalence of `abnormal' values of DNA adduct levels was exposure–dose related. The influence of confounding variables was found not to be significant in this study of relatively limited size. In spite of this, the results suggest that the DNA adduct levels in LYM seem to be affected by smoking (OR=1.8 for smokers) and are modulated by the influence of NAT2 genotypes (OR=1.6 for slow acetylators). Our findings indicate that both cell types are generally suitable to monitor occupational exposure to PAHs, and the results suggest that coke oven workers, smoking individuals and slow acetylators sustain more genetic damage in their LYM–DNA from exposure to carcinogenic PAHs than individuals without these actors.

Coke oven workers study: the effect of exposure and GSTM1 and NAT2 genotypes on DNA adduct levels in white blood cells and lymphocytes as determined by 32P-postlabelling

For over 40 years the Northern Bohemia area of the Czech Republic has been characterized by heavy industrialization, open pit mining, and utilization of high sulfur brown coal by industry and in residential home heating. These conditions have resulted in severe environmental pollution and concern over evidence of adverse health effects for residents in the region. Beginning in August 1991, Czech scientists from the Teplice District Institute of Hygiene and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency researchers from the Health Effects Research Laboratory and the Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory cooperated in conducting pilot studies in the Teplice District, which is centrally located in the industrialized area. These studies determined ambient concentrations and personal exposures to airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organic mutagens. Active personal air samplers were used in personal exposure studies of coal miners, policemen and other workers in the Teplice di...

Czech-U.S. Epa Health Study: Assessment of Personal and Ambient Air Exposures to Pah and Organic Mutagens in the Teplice District of Northern Bohemia

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Czech-U.S. Epa Health Study: Assessment of Personal and Ambient Air Exposures to Pah and Organic Mutagens in the Teplice District of Northern Bohemia