Impacts of environmental toxicants on male reproductive dysfunction

Wong, Elissa W.P.; Cheng, C. Yan

doi:10.1016/j.tips.2011.01.001

Cited by 204 publications

(131 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…Toxicants affecting the reproductive system are broadly categorised as petroleum products, agrochemicals, industrial chemicals and heavy metals. The effects of exposure to toxicants and male infertility have been reported by many investigators [4]. However the results vary according to the study population, the methods used in the assessment of exposure and the biological end point.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and occupational exposures as a cause of male infertility: A caveat

et al. 2015

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Objectives To determine the association between environmental and occupational exposures, semen parameters and lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in seminal plasma of men investigated for infertility.Methods Data were collected from 300 men investigated for infertility using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Seminal fluid analysis and classification was done according to WHO guidelines. Positive exposure was defined as environmental or occupational exposure to agro or industrial chemicals, heavy metals and living in areas within 50m of potential sources of pollution for three months or more. Seminal plasma lead and cadmium levels were estimated by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry after digestion with nitric acid. The means of sperm parameters, Pb and Cd concentrations between exposed and non exposed groups were compared using t-test.Results Mean age was 34.8 (95% CI 34.2-35.4) years BMI was 24.3 (95% CI 23.8-24.7) kg/m 2 and duration of the infertility was 45.7 (41.7-49.6) months. In this study, 54.6% were exposed to toxins through environmental or occupational sources. All sperm parameters were lower in the exposed group when compared to the non exposed. Lead and cadmium were detected in 38.3% and 23% of men respectively. The distance from the source of possible environmental or occupational exposure was negatively correlated to seminal plasma Pb (r=0.06, p>0.05) and Cd (r=0.26, p<0.05) concentrations. In the exposed, mean IntroductionGlobally, human fecundity appears to be on the decline with decrease in semen quality and male infertility being on the rise [1,2]. Environmental pollutants, occupational exposures and life style factors have been explored as possible contributors [3]. Toxicants affecting the reproductive system are broadly categorised as petroleum products, agrochemicals, industrial chemicals and heavy metals. The effects of exposure to toxicants and male infertility have been reported by many investigators [4]. However the results vary according to the study population, the methods used in the assessment of exposure and the biological end point.Of the heavy metals known to impair semen quality, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are the two most prevalent Ceylon Medical Journal 2015; 60: 52-6 lead concentration was 17.7 (95% CI 15.0-20.4) µg/dl and 13.5 (95% CI 11.2-15.7) µg/dl in non exposed and cadmium concentration in exposed was 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.4) µg/dl and 1.1 (0.9-1.3) µg/dl in non-exposed.Conclusions Environmental and occupational exposures were associated with reduced sperm count motility, viability, normal forms and detectable levels of lead and cadmium in seminal plasma.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and occupational exposures as a cause of male infertility: A caveat

et al. 2015

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“…by environmental toxicants) causes the premature release of spermatids that are structurally defective (e.g. lack of acrosome and/or tail) and which are incapable of fertilizing the ovum (Wong & Cheng, 2011). Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Toxicants Induced Male Reproductive Disorders: Identification and Mechanism of Action

Jana¹,

Sen²

2012

Toxicity and Drug Testing

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“…Several studies established an increasing incidence of various abnormalities of the human reproductive system, including a decreased sperm count and an increased incidence of testicular and prostate cancer (2-7), but also great differences among countries and different locations within a country. This has triggered an increasing interest in the possible causes of these abnormalities and factors that contribute to this deterioration and the geographical differences, including environmental and lifestyle factors (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13).…”

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confidence: 99%

Reproductive Toxicity of Metals in Men

Pizent¹,

Tariba²,

Živković³

2012

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

102

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A combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors contributes to adverse effects on the reproductive health in men. Metals are pervasive in food, water, air, tobacco smoke, and alcoholic beverages. Experimental studies suggest that many metals have adverse effects on the male reproductive function. However, information about reproductive effects of human exposure to metals is scarce and/or inconsistent. This review summarises the information from epidemiological studies of the effects of metal exposure on reproductive function in men. Factors capable of affecting these relationships were identifi ed and discussed. A particular attention is given to the studies considering infl uence of concomitant exposure to various metals. These studies have generally confi rmed that even moderate-to low-level exposure to lead affects certain reproductive parameters, and that exposure to cadmium affects the prostate function and serum testosterone levels. Adverse effects of mercury, manganese, chromium and arsenic on semen quality and altered serum hormone are less well documented. There is no clear evidence that boron exposure may impair reproductive health in men. Only a few studies have investigated reproductive effects of concomitant exposure to several metals and controlled for potential confounders. Future studies should consider the contribution of combined exposure to various metals and/or other factors that may infl uence individual susceptibility to reproductive health impairment in men. KEY WORDS: human semen quality, metals, metalloids, metal interactions, sex hormonesPizent A, et al.

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Impacts of environmental toxicants on male reproductive dysfunction

Cited by 204 publications

References 115 publications

Environmental and occupational exposures as a cause of male infertility: A caveat

Environmental and occupational exposures as a cause of male infertility: A caveat

Environmental Toxicants Induced Male Reproductive Disorders: Identification and Mechanism of Action

Reproductive Toxicity of Metals in Men

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