High exposure to BPA can damage sperm quality--study

Although, previous studies document the ability of BPA to reduce sperm count in rodents, this is the first time that researchers have been able to demonstrate a decreased sperm concentration in men exposed to the chemical.

Lead author of the study Dr. De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California stated, "The finding of the adverse BPA effect on semen quality illustrates two points: first, exposure to BPA now has been linked to changes in semen quality, an objective physiological measure.

"Second, this association shows BPA potential potency: it could lead to pathological changes of the male reproductive system in addition to the changes of sexual function.

“When you see this kind of association with semen you have to wonder what else BPA has an effect on.”

Details of the study
In a bid to assess the link between BPA in the blood and male infertility, US researchers carried out a study over a period of five years.

For the purpose of the study, they tracked 130 Chinese men who worked in factories that manufactured products such as plastic resins, which use large amounts of BPA.

In addition, they also followed 88 workers who did not handle materials containing BPA and whose exposure to the chemical was equivalent to that of an average person in the U.S.

All the participants provided their urine and semen samples.

Revelations of the study
A comparison between the two groups revealed that men who were exposed to the highest levels of BPA had the lowest sperm count.

They also had lower sperm motility and lesser sperm morphology. Morphology relates to the size and shape of the sperm and indicates a man's fertility potential.

Even after taking into account risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, history of chronic disease, previous exposure to other chemicals and metals, fertility issues, the link between high BPA exposure and poor semen quality persisted.

Li stated, "Compared with men without detectable urine BPA, those with detectable urine BPA had more than three times the risk of lowered sperm concentration and lower sperm vitality, more than four times the risk of a lower sperm count, and more than twice the risk of lower sperm motility.”

However, whether the difference would have an impact on their ability to father children was ambiguous.

The research was sponsored by the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health,

The results of the study are published in the journal 'Fertility and Sterility.'