Environmental Estrogen-like Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and the Dangers they pose on Male Fertility: Review Case of Nairobi River Water

 

Mutembei Henry M’Ikiugu, Kipyegon Ambrose Ng’eno and Mutiga Erastus Riungu

 

Full Length Research Paper I Published May,2017

 

Journal of Physical Science and Environmental Studies Vol. 3 (3), pp. 25-29

ABSTRACT

Concerns were raised by pig farmers in Nairobi that suggested the presence of compounds within the water of Nairobi river capable of affecting male fertility through increased incidence of retained testis in piglets. Series of studies were conducted to verify the concerns of these farmers. Significant number (x²=72, p≤0.05, n=80) of the farmers residing along the riparian were involved in urban agriculture and utilized the water from this river to rear pigs. The residents reported a 10% incidence (n=180) of retained testis in piglets born to sows accessing the river water. The levels of 17β-estradiol and alkylphenol in the sampled water of Nairobi river were in clinical significant levels (p≤0.05) (0.95µg/L for 17β-estradiol and 0.36µg/L for alkylphenol). The seminiferous tubules of the testis of the boars accessing the water revealed significant lesions likely to affect male fertility (P≤0.05); epithelial vacuolations, sloughed germ cells and patches of depleted tubules. The lesions were confirmed in the seminiferous tubules of naive experimental mice exposed to the same water for a period of 40 days in a laboratory. The results reviewed suggest presence significant levels of 17β-estradiol and alkylphenol compounds within the water of Nairobi river capable of affecting male fertility.  It is recommended that a policy is needed to address the pollution of the water in Nairobi river in order to prevent the effects of such compounds on animals and/or humans.

Key words: Environmental pollutants, Endocrine disrupting compounds, Male fertility.

Full Text-PDF