[Pharmwaste] Phthalates linked to impairment in male human reproduction development

[DeBiasi,Deborah]

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/11146/11146.pdf

Phthalates Impair Germ Cell Development in the Human Fetal Testis in vitro Without Change in Testosterone Production

Romain Lambrot, Vincent Muczynski, Charlotte Lécureuil, Gaëlle Angenard, Hervé Coffigny, Catherine Pairault,
Delphine Moison, René Frydman, René Habert and Virginie Rouiller-Fabre

doi:10.1289/ehp.11146 (available at http://dx.doi.org/) Online 9 September 2008


Synopsis by Michael D. Laiosa 

Scientists have found a chemical in plastics called MEHP that impairs the development of the reproductive organs of boys when they are exposed in the womb. The chemical, a phthalate, directly harms the development of cells that make sperm. 

In a ground-breaking study, scientists have established that a specific phthalate known as MEHP can directly harm the development of sperm making testicular cells in human baby boys. Phthalates are ubiquitous chemicals found in plastics, medical care products, and consumer goods. Virtually everyone is exposed to them on some level but, concerns that babies and children might be especially sensitive to adverse health and developmental effects have been growing in recent years. Specifically, phthalates have been found in urine soaked diapers of babies after parental application of baby lotions and soaps. Moreover, phthalates have been linked to altered development of boy's reproductive organs when exposed in the womb. Nevertheless, definitive proof that phthalates were the cause of the altered development were lacking. That is until this new study was published, demonstrating that MEHP cause sperm making cells from a fetus to die, thus impacting the potential amount of sperm and thus fertility of that boy when he grows into a man.


Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permit Programs
Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
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