Objectives: Apparent increases in human male reproductive disorders, including low sperm production, may have occurred because of increased chemical exposure. Various glycol ether-based solvents have pronounced adverse effects on sperm production and male fertility in laboratory animals. The authors investigated the effects of past and current exposure to glycol ether-containing products on semen quality and reproductive hormones among men employed by the Paris Municipality.
Methods: Between 2000 and 2001 the authors recruited 109 men who gave semen, blood and urine samples and underwent an andrological examination. Information on lifestyle, occupation, exposure and medical history was obtained by interview. According to their job and chemical products used during the period 1990-2000, men were classified as either occupationally exposed or non-exposed. Current exposure levels to glycol ethers at the time of the study were evaluated by biological monitoring of six urinary metabolites.
Results: Previous exposure to glycol ethers was associated with an increased risk for sperm concentration, for rapid progressive motility and for morphologically normal sperm below the World Health Organization semen reference values. No effect of previous glycol ether exposure on hormones levels was observed. By contrast, current glycol ether exposure levels were low and not correlated with either seminal quality or hormone levels.
Conclusions: This study suggests that most glycol ethers currently used do not impact on human semen characteristics. Those that were more prevalent from the 1960s until recently may have long lasting negative effects on human semen quality.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2078482 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2005.023952 | DOI Listing |
Nano Lett
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Zhengzhou University, Daxue Road 75, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
Ternary copper halides with an eco-friendly property have emerged as attractive candidates to replace toxic lead-containing perovskites for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), yet achieving long-wavelength electroluminescence remains unexplored. Herein, we report the first realization of orange-emitting LEDs (595 nm) based on nontoxic organic-inorganic PEACuI (PEA = β-phenylethylamine) films enabled by a nonionic surfactant poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) (APPG) chemisorption. Experimental and theoretical analyses rationalize that the APPG additive has strong chemisorption with the Cu-I framework within the grain boundaries of PEACuI films, which not only improves the film's morphology but also passivates the iodine vacancy defects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaterials (Basel)
January 2025
Polymer Chemistry and Physics Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary.
Tuning the critical solution temperature (CST) of thermoresponsive polymers is essential to exploit their immense potential in various applications. In the present study, the effect of PEG-methyl ether methacrylate with a higher molecular weight of 1100 g/mol (mPEGMA) as a comonomer was investigated for its suitability for the CST adjustment of LCST-type polymers. Accordingly, a library of mPEGMA-based copolymers was established with varying compositions () using four main comonomers, namely di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate, -isopropyl acrylamide and methacrylamide, and mPEGMA, with different CST values (cloud points, , and clearing points, , by turbidimetry).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGels
January 2025
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
Microemulsions have been commonly used with various permeation enhancers to improve permeability through the skin. The purpose of this study was to compare the release and permeation ability of two commonly used permeation enhancers-diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DGME) and oleyl alcohol-by the changes in oil composition, the addition of a gelling agent, and water content using ibuprofen as a model drug. Four microemulsions were formulated, selection was based on ternary phase diagrams, and physicochemical properties were evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFood Res Int
February 2025
College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Engineering Research Center of Food Thermal-Processing Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address:
Ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) are widely used as sterilizing agents in the food industry. However, their residues in food packaging can migrate into food and react with it, affecting the accuracy of residue detection in food. This study aims to explore the reaction mechanisms between EO and PO and aqueous food simulants using both experimental and computational methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Chernoff Hall, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada.
The use of gold nanoclusters in biomedical applications has been steadily increasing in recent years. However, water solubility is a key factor for these applications, and water-soluble gold nanoclusters are often difficult to isolate and susceptible to exchange or oxidation in vivo. Herein, we report the isolation of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-protected atomically precise gold nanoclusters functionalized with triethylene glycol monomethyl ether groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!