Semen Quality of Industrial Workers Occupationally Exposed to Chromium

Abstract

Semen Quality of Industrial Workers Occupationally Exposed to Chromium: Sunil KUMAR, et al. Reproductive Toxicology and Histochemistry Division, National Institute of Occupational Health (ICMR), India-A total of sixty-one subjects occupationally exposed to chromium in an industry which manufactures chromium sulphate and fifteen control subjects from a nearby industry which does not manufacture any chromium related compounds were studied. The history of each subject was recorded on pre-designed form through interview and a routine medical examination was carried out. Blood samples (5-6 ml) were collected for the estimation of chromium and semen samples were collected for semen analysis and the determination of copper and zinc levels in the seminal plasma. Clinical examination revealed nasal perforation in 10 subjects (out of 61) in the exposed group as compared to none in the control group. A significantly higher level of chromium was observed in the blood of the exposed workers as compared to the control. The concentration of zinc in seminal plasma was lower while the level of copper was higher in the exposed group as compared to the control. However, these changes were not statistically significant. S t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t h i g h e r n u m b e r s o f morphologically abnormal sperms were noticed in the exposed group with respect to the control. Further analysis of the data indicated that about 53% of the exposed subjects showed less than 30% normal forms as compared to 10% in control subjects. However, no significant alterations in semen volume, liquefaction time, mean pH value, sperm viability, concentration or motility, were noticed between chromium exposed and unexposed workers. The data also indicates that exposure to chromium has some effect on human sperm as a significant positive correlation (r=0.301) was observed between percentages of abnormal sperm morphology and blood chromium levels (p=0.016) after pooling all the data of the control and exposure groups. (J Occup Health 2005; 47: 424-430)

Reproductive Toxicity of Metals in Men

“…Blood chromium positively correlated with the percentage of abnormal sperm in the exposed workers (92). While one study of welders exposed to chromium (VI) reported a 67 % decrease in sperm concentration compared to controls and an inverse correlation between sperm concentration and blood chromium levels in the exposed workers (93), another study showed no signifi cant difference in semen quality between welders and other workers (94).…”

Effect of Turmeric Oil on Reproductive Efficiency of Adult Male Rats Exposed to Potassium Dichromate

“…Saxena et al (1990) suggested a risk to growing testes, if rats are exposed to hexavalent chromium during the pre-pubertal stages of their development, which in turn, may disturb normal testicular physiology in adulthood. A significant higher numbers of morphologically abnormal sperm were noticed in a group occupationally exposed to chromium in compare to the unexposed persons, (Kumar et al, 2005).…”

“…It also has been reported to have carcinogenic, cytotoxic effects both in human and laboratory animals (Stohs et al, 2001). High levels of chromium in blood, urine and some body tissues are found in workers occupationally exposed to chromium (Kumar et al, 2005). Workers exposed to chromium in welding industry suffered from increased risk of reduced semen quality and sperm abnormalities leading to infertility (Bond, 1993).…”

Trace elements levels in the serum, urine, and semen of patients with infertility

“…Other elements such as Cu, Mn, molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and Zn are essential for good health but may be harmful above certain levels (3,8). For example Cr, Mn, and Cu, which act as cofactors for a variety of important enzymes, have been associated with reduced semen quality (9)(10)(11). On the other hand, lower levels of Cu, Se, and Zn may have protective effects on male reproductive outcomes and may assist in counteracting the effects of Cd and Pb (1,4,(12)(13)(14).…”