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Impact of Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate Metabolites on Male Reproductive Function: a Systematic Review of Human Evidence

  • Susceptibility Factors in Environmental Health (B Ritz and Z Liew, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to systematically review the literature linking di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure with effects on reproductive health in adult males.

Recent Findings

Thirty-three papers were included of which 28 were cross-sectional. Twenty-one papers investigated semen samples, 18 investigated reproductive hormones, and three studies investigated time to pregnancy. Studies revealed some but inconsistent indications that higher urinary DEHP metabolite levels are associated with an increase in the proportion of spermatozoa with damaged DNA and to a decrease in sperm concentration and motility. A negative association between DEHP metabolites and testosterone levels was more consistent. DEHP metabolites do not seem to be associated with a delay in time to pregnancy, but data are sparse.

Summary

The studies on DEHP exposure and reproductive biomarkers in men converge to support the hypothesis that DEHP exposure is related to impaired male reproductive function. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish if the observed associations are causal.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgment

It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our co-author, Bo A.G. Jönsson during the writing of this article.

Funding

This systematic review was part of the CLEAR collaboration funded by the European Commission 7th Framework Program FP7-ENV-2008-1 Grant no.: 226217; the Danish Research Council (10-082745); ReproHigh, the Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak-Program; and funded by the European Regional Development Fund. This article was furthermore a part of the ReproUnion collaborative study, co-financed by the European Union, Intereg V ÖKS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, 2400, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Birgit Bjerre Høyer, Jens Peter E. Bonde & Ina Olmer Specht

  2. Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Olof Palmes Allé 43-45, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark

    Birgit Bjerre Høyer & Gunnar Toft

  3. Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Birgit Bjerre Høyer

  4. Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Postboks 4404 Nydalen, 0403, Oslo, Norway

    Virissa Lenters

  5. Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, SE-205 02, Malmo, Sweden

    Aleksander Giwercman

  6. Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Bo A.G. Jönsson

  7. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Karin S. Hougaard

  8. Section of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Karin S. Hougaard

  9. The Parker Institute, Research Unit for Dietary Studies, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, 2000, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Ina Olmer Specht

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  1. Birgit Bjerre Høyer
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  2. Virissa Lenters
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  4. Bo A.G. Jönsson
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  5. Gunnar Toft
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  6. Karin S. Hougaard
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Correspondence to Birgit Bjerre Høyer.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

All reported studies with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki Declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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Bo A.G. Jönsson Deceased.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Susceptibility Factors in Environmental Health

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Høyer, B.B., Lenters, V., Giwercman, A. et al. Impact of Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate Metabolites on Male Reproductive Function: a Systematic Review of Human Evidence. Curr Envir Health Rpt 5, 20–33 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-018-0174-3

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