Nonylphenol and bisphenol A exposure levels and male reproductive health effects

Objective To explore the relationship between levels of nonylphenol(NP) and bisphenol A(BPA) in blood, semen and semen quality. Methods The blood and semen samples of 103 adult males in a hospital in Guangzhou were collected.Semen quality was detected based on WHO testing standards for sperm quality and operation standard for instrument. The concentrations of NP and BPA in blood and semen were mensurated using freeze drying-accelerated solvent extraction(ASE)-LC-MS. Results The average concentrations of NP were(2.69±3.22),(1.15±1.30) ng/ml respectively in blood and semen for males,and the average concentrations of BPA were(2.01±1.95),(1.00±1.40) ng/ml respectively. Compared with semen,NP and BPA concentrations in blood were higher. No significant correlation was observed in NP levels between blood and semen,in BPA between blood and semen, in levels between NP and BPA in blood,in levels between NP and BPA in semen. There was also no significant correlation between levels of NP and BPA in blood and semen and semen parameters(sperm concentration,Grade a, Grade b, Grade a +b, Grade c, and Grade d). Conclusion Semen quality for 103 investigated adult males is not significantly affected by the levels of NP and BPA in blood and semen.