DNA DAMAGE AND DECREASE OF SPERM QUALITY IN MEN OCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAH’s)

Background and aims: Over the last decade, concerns have been mounting over declining levels of semen quality (1). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a group of genotoxic, lipophilic, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are distributed in the environment. The aim was to evaluate the association between the urinary levels of 1-hydroxypyrene with the DNA damage, with sperm quality and with the frequency of CYP1A1, GSST1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the adverse effects of PHAs. A total of 71 subjects, 36 occupationally exposed and 35 unexposed men were included in our study. Semen, blood and urine samples were taken to volunteers to evaluate: sperm quality, 1-hydroxypyrene urinary levels (Biomarker of exposure PAH’s), DNA damage and the frequency of polymorphism CYP1A1, GSTT1 y GSTM1. Results: DNA damage was significantly higher in occupationally exposed subjects (p <0.05). The frequency of genotypes of the enzymes tested was not statistically different between both groups. The sperm quality was significantly lower in the exposed group (p <0.05). 1-hydroxypyrene urinary levels were higher in the exposed group (p=0.01). Sperm/ml, total count of sperm and CYP1A1 (m4) polymorphism were negatively associated with 1-hydroxypyrene. Conclusion: PAH exposure decreases sperm quality and induce DNA damage.