Adverse reproductive outcomes from exposure to environmental mutagens

The effect of environmental pollution on reproductive outcomes has been stu died in the research project 'Teplice Program' analyzing the impact of air pollution on human health. Genotoxicity of urban air particles < 10 mu m (P M10) in in vitro system was determined by the analysis of DNA adducts. The highest DNA binding activity was observed in aromatic fraction, identifying DNA adducts of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) presum ably diolepoxide-derived from: 9-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (9-OH-B[a]P), benzo[ n]pyrene-r-7,-dihydrodiol-t-9,10-epoxide[+] (anti-BPDE), benzo[b]fluoranthe ne (B[ b]F), chrysene (CHRY), benz[a]antracene (B[a]A), indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyr ene (I[ cd]P). Reproductive studies were conducted in both females and male s. A study of the effects of PM10 exposure on pregnancy outcomes found the relationship between the intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and PM10 le vels over 40 mu g/m(3) in the first gestational month (Odds Ratio for 40-50 mu g/m(3) = 1.6, > 50 mu g/m(3) = 1.9). Selected biomarkers were analyzed in venous blood, cord blood (chromosomal aberrations, comet assay) and plac enta (DNA adducts, genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and NAT2 genotypes) of wo men enrolled in a nested case-control study. DNA adduct levels were higher in polluted vs. control districts, in smoking vs. nonsmoking mothers, and i n GSTM1 null genotype, which was more pronounced in polluted district. No e ffect of air pollution was observed by cytogenetic analysis of chromosomal aberrations or by comet assay. The reproductive development of young men wa s followed by measures of semen quality, adjusted for ambient SO2 exposure. The analysis identified significant associations with air pollution for < 13% morphologically normal sperm, < 29% sperm with normal head shape, < 24% motile sperm. Analysis of aneuploidy in human sperm by FISH showed, aneupl oidy YY8 was associated with season of heaviest air pollution. These findin gs are suggestive for an influence of air pollution on YY8 disomy. All thes e results indicate that air pollution may increase DNA damage in human popu lation, which may be even higher for susceptible groups. Biomarkers of expo sure (DNA adducts) and susceptibility (GSTM1 and NAT2) may indicate the ris k of presumable low environmental exposure, pregnancy outcome and semen stu dies imply that relatively low air pollution (higher than 40 mu g PM10/m(3) ) can significantly increase the adverse reproductive outcomes affecting bo th genders. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.