Effects of non-occupational environmental exposure to pyrethroids on semen quality and sperm DNA integrity in Chinese men

Observations in several western and Asiatic countries point toward a decline in semen quality which may be associated with environmental exposures. To investigate the effect of environmental exposure to pyrethroids on sperm DNA integrity and semen quality, 240 men were recruited from an infertility clinic through the clinic following strict eligibility screening. Urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) concentration, semen quality, and sperm DNA integrity were evaluated. After adjustment for potential confounders, a significant inverse correlation was observed between the urinary 3-PBA level and the sperm concentration (β = −0.27, 95%CI: −0.41 to −0.12, P < 0.001). Moreover, we also found a significant positive correlation between urinary 3-PBA level and sperm DNA fragmentation (β = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.15–0.39, P < 0.001). Our results suggest that non-occupational environmental pyrethroids exposure may have a negative impact on sperm DNA integrity and semen quality in Chinese males.