PFAS Exposure is Associated with a Lower Spermatic Quality in an Arctic Seabird

Overview

Journal Environ Sci Technol

Publisher American Chemical Society

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2024 Oct 23

PMID 39441666

Authors

Segolene Humann-Guilleminot

Pierre Blevin

Geir Wing Gabrielsen

Dorte Herzke

Vladimir A Nikiforov

William Jouanneau

Borge Moe

Charline Parenteau

Fabrice Helfenstein

Olivier Chastel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Several studies have reported an increasing occurrence of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in Arctic wildlife tissues, raising concerns due to their resistance to degradation. While some research has explored PFAS's physiological effects on birds, their impact on reproductive functions, particularly sperm quality, remains underexplored. This study aims to assess (1) potential association between PFAS concentrations in blood and sperm quality in black-legged kittiwakes (), focusing on the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, sperm velocity, percentage of sperm motility, and morphology; and (2) examine the association of plasma levels of testosterone, corticosterone, and luteinizing hormone with both PFAS concentrations and sperm quality parameters to assess possible endocrine disrupting pathways. Our findings reveal a positive correlation between the concentration of longer-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCA; C11-C14) in blood and the percentage of abnormal sperm in kittiwakes. Additionally, we observed that two other PFAS (i.e., PFOSlin and PFNA), distinct from those associated with sperm abnormalities, were positively correlated with the stress hormone corticosterone. These findings emphasize the potentially harmful substance-specific effects of long-chain PFCAs on seabirds and the need for further research into the impact of pollutants on sperm quality as a potential additional detrimental effect on birds.

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