Exposure to multiple metals/metalloids and human semen quality: A cross-sectional study.
Adult
Arsenic
/ blood
Body Fluids
Cadmium
/ pharmacology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environmental Exposure
Humans
Male
Mercury
Metalloids
/ metabolism
Metals
/ metabolism
Nickel
/ pharmacology
Selenium
Semen
/ drug effects
Semen Analysis
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility
/ drug effects
Spermatozoa
/ drug effects
Vanadium
Environmental pollution
Male infertility
Metals/metalloids
Semen quality
Journal
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
ISSN: 1090-2414
Titre abrégé: Ecotoxicol Environ Saf
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7805381
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 Jun 2021
01 Jun 2021
Historique:
received:
09
12
2020
revised:
11
03
2021
accepted:
15
03
2021
pubmed:
28
3
2021
medline:
21
4
2021
entrez:
27
3
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Exposure to metals/metalloids, including essential and nonessential elements, has been associated to male reproductive health in animals. However, findings from human studies are inconsistent. To investigate the impact of exposure to multiple metals/metalloids at environmental levels on the conventional human semen-quality parameters. Men living in rural or industrial areas were recruited by personalized letters. No exclusion criteria were applied. Each man provided one semen sample and one blood sample. We analyzed the semen sample both to determine conventional sperm parameters (concentration, progressive motility and normal forms) and to quantify lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V) and selenium (Se) levels. The levels of these metals/metalloids were also quantified in venous blood and spermatozoa samples. Associations between the blood/seminal plasma metal/metalloid levels and semen quality parameters were assessed using confounder adjusted logistic regression models. Correlation and interactions between blood/seminal plasma and semen metal/metalloid levels were investigated using the Spearman's correlation. We found a positive association of seminal plasma cadmium level with lower Total count (OR = 4.48, 95%CI 0.25-80); whereas lead (OR = 4.51, 95%CI 0.86-23) and cadmium (OR = 3.45, 95%CI 0.77-16) seminal plasma levels had a positive association with progressive sperm motility. Overall, these associations remained suggestive after adjustment, though statistically unstable risks. Finally, we found weak interactions between beneficial effects of Se and detrimental ones only for Cd and Pb blood level on sperm concentration, total sperm count and progressive sperm motility. Our findings suggest that environmental exposure to Pb and Cd contributes to a decline in human semen quality, whereas Se can have beneficial effects. Measurements of metals/metalloids in the seminal fluid may be more predictable of semen quality than conventional blood measurements.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Exposure to metals/metalloids, including essential and nonessential elements, has been associated to male reproductive health in animals. However, findings from human studies are inconsistent.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of exposure to multiple metals/metalloids at environmental levels on the conventional human semen-quality parameters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
METHODS
Men living in rural or industrial areas were recruited by personalized letters. No exclusion criteria were applied. Each man provided one semen sample and one blood sample. We analyzed the semen sample both to determine conventional sperm parameters (concentration, progressive motility and normal forms) and to quantify lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V) and selenium (Se) levels. The levels of these metals/metalloids were also quantified in venous blood and spermatozoa samples. Associations between the blood/seminal plasma metal/metalloid levels and semen quality parameters were assessed using confounder adjusted logistic regression models. Correlation and interactions between blood/seminal plasma and semen metal/metalloid levels were investigated using the Spearman's correlation.
RESULTS
RESULTS
We found a positive association of seminal plasma cadmium level with lower Total count (OR = 4.48, 95%CI 0.25-80); whereas lead (OR = 4.51, 95%CI 0.86-23) and cadmium (OR = 3.45, 95%CI 0.77-16) seminal plasma levels had a positive association with progressive sperm motility. Overall, these associations remained suggestive after adjustment, though statistically unstable risks. Finally, we found weak interactions between beneficial effects of Se and detrimental ones only for Cd and Pb blood level on sperm concentration, total sperm count and progressive sperm motility.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that environmental exposure to Pb and Cd contributes to a decline in human semen quality, whereas Se can have beneficial effects. Measurements of metals/metalloids in the seminal fluid may be more predictable of semen quality than conventional blood measurements.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33773149
pii: S0147-6513(21)00276-1
doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112165
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Metalloids
0
Metals
0
Cadmium
00BH33GNGH
Vanadium
00J9J9XKDE
Nickel
7OV03QG267
Mercury
FXS1BY2PGL
Selenium
H6241UJ22B
Arsenic
N712M78A8G
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
112165Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.