Overview
- The analysis reports statistical associations—not proven causation—between certain exposures and poorer semen parameters such as count, morphology, concentration, volume, motility and vitality.
- After screening more than 2,000 organic compounds, researchers detected 42 substances in semen, 42 in urine and 48 in blood.
- Chemicals associated with adverse measures included the sweetener acesulfame, bisphenol‑S, the insecticide nitenpiram, specific surfactants, the flame retardant triethyl phosphate, a tire additive, and tobacco markers nicotine and cotinine.
- The high‑resolution mass spectrometry workflow distinguished closely related compounds with precision exceeding 0.001 atomic mass units.
- Authors identify seminal plasma as a sensitive matrix for exposome research and call for larger longitudinal and mechanistic studies given the substantial burden of male‑factor infertility.