Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Follicular fluid and blood levels of persistent organic pollutants and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies

Björvang, Richelle D. ; Hallberg, Ida ; Pikki, Anne ; Berglund, Lars ; Pedrelli, Matteo ; Kiviranta, Hannu ; Rantakokko, Panu ; Ruokojärvi, Päivi ; Lindh, Christian H. LU orcid and Olovsson, Matts , et al. (2022) In Environmental Research 208.
Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals resistant to degradation and have been shown to have adverse effects on reproductive health in wildlife and humans. Although regulations have reduced their levels, they are still ubiquitously present and pose a global concern. Here, we studied a cohort of 185 women aged 21–43 years with a median of 2 years of infertility who were seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment at the Carl von Linné Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. We analyzed the levels of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the blood and follicular fluid (FF) samples collected during... (More)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals resistant to degradation and have been shown to have adverse effects on reproductive health in wildlife and humans. Although regulations have reduced their levels, they are still ubiquitously present and pose a global concern. Here, we studied a cohort of 185 women aged 21–43 years with a median of 2 years of infertility who were seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment at the Carl von Linné Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. We analyzed the levels of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the blood and follicular fluid (FF) samples collected during ovum pick-up. Impact of age on chemical transfer from blood to FF was analyzed. Associations of chemicals, both individually and as a mixture, to 10 ART endpoints were investigated using linear, logistic, and weighted quantile sum regression, adjusted for age, body mass index, parity, fatty fish intake and cause of infertility. Out of the 30 chemicals, 20 were detected in more than half of the blood samples and 15 in FF. Chemical transfer from blood to FF increased with age. Chemical groups in blood crossed the blood-follicle barrier at different rates: OCPs > PCBs > PFASs. Hexachlorobenzene, an OCP, was associated with lower anti-Müllerian hormone, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. PCBs and PFASs were associated with higher antral follicle count and ovarian response as measured by ovarian sensitivity index, but also with lower embryo quality. As a mixture, similar findings were seen for the sum of PCBs and PFASs. Our results suggest that age plays a role in the chemical transfer from blood to FF and that exposure to POPs significantly associates with ART outcomes. We strongly encourage further studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of reproductive effects of POPs in humans.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Assisted reproductive technologies, Embryo quality, Follicular fluid, Live birth, Ovarian sensitivity index, Persistent organic pollutants
in
Environmental Research
volume
208
article number
112626
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:34973191
  • scopus:85122981009
ISSN
0013-9351
DOI
10.1016/j.envres.2021.112626
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac62e84a-59ce-4378-b591-72622ebb8d57
date added to LUP
2022-03-02 15:14:04
date last changed
2024-04-18 06:08:34
@article{ac62e84a-59ce-4378-b591-72622ebb8d57,
  abstract     = {{<p>Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals resistant to degradation and have been shown to have adverse effects on reproductive health in wildlife and humans. Although regulations have reduced their levels, they are still ubiquitously present and pose a global concern. Here, we studied a cohort of 185 women aged 21–43 years with a median of 2 years of infertility who were seeking assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment at the Carl von Linné Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. We analyzed the levels of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 8 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the blood and follicular fluid (FF) samples collected during ovum pick-up. Impact of age on chemical transfer from blood to FF was analyzed. Associations of chemicals, both individually and as a mixture, to 10 ART endpoints were investigated using linear, logistic, and weighted quantile sum regression, adjusted for age, body mass index, parity, fatty fish intake and cause of infertility. Out of the 30 chemicals, 20 were detected in more than half of the blood samples and 15 in FF. Chemical transfer from blood to FF increased with age. Chemical groups in blood crossed the blood-follicle barrier at different rates: OCPs &gt; PCBs &gt; PFASs. Hexachlorobenzene, an OCP, was associated with lower anti-Müllerian hormone, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. PCBs and PFASs were associated with higher antral follicle count and ovarian response as measured by ovarian sensitivity index, but also with lower embryo quality. As a mixture, similar findings were seen for the sum of PCBs and PFASs. Our results suggest that age plays a role in the chemical transfer from blood to FF and that exposure to POPs significantly associates with ART outcomes. We strongly encourage further studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of reproductive effects of POPs in humans.</p>}},
  author       = {{Björvang, Richelle D. and Hallberg, Ida and Pikki, Anne and Berglund, Lars and Pedrelli, Matteo and Kiviranta, Hannu and Rantakokko, Panu and Ruokojärvi, Päivi and Lindh, Christian H. and Olovsson, Matts and Persson, Sara and Holte, Jan and Sjunnesson, Ylva and Damdimopoulou, Pauliina}},
  issn         = {{0013-9351}},
  keywords     = {{Assisted reproductive technologies; Embryo quality; Follicular fluid; Live birth; Ovarian sensitivity index; Persistent organic pollutants}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Research}},
  title        = {{Follicular fluid and blood levels of persistent organic pollutants and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112626}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envres.2021.112626}},
  volume       = {{208}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}