The Relationship between Exposure to Lead-Containing Welding Fumes and the Levels of Reproductive Hormones

Dehghan, Somayeh Farhang; Mehrifar, Younes; Ardalan, Arash

doi:10.5334/aogh.2617

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The findings of the current study were also consistent with those of Dehghan et al (2019), who investigated the relationship between exposure to lead-containing welding fumes and the levels of reproductive hormones. They discovered that the blood lead concentration was much greater than the biological exposure index (BEI) advised by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (p< 0.05).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of Exposure to Metal Fumes on the Reproductive Health of Male Welders

Ramadan

2023

Egypt. J. Occup. Med.

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Introduction:Welding fumes are made up of a variety of metal oxides, fumes, and gases, and many of these metals have been linked to diverse fertility issues. Aim of Work: To determine the blood levels of metals among welders and to investigate their impact on male reproductive health. Materials and Methods: The study included 142 male employees in a stainless steel manufacturing facility, wherein 71 welding workers serve as a vulnerable group and 71 administrative persons served as the control group. All participants underwent a thorough medical history, a detailed reproductive questionnaire, including an erectile function test using the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5), and a full clinical examination. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine blood lead (Pb), serum aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) levels. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The exposed group had a lower IIEF-5 score, lower libido, and a higher blood Al, Pb, and Mn compared to the control group. Welders had higher levels of reproductive hormones (FSH and LH) and lower levels of testosterone and antioxidant enzyme SOD compared to controls. A positive correlation was detected between the level of Al, Pb, Mn, FSH, LH, age, and duration of employment among the exposed group, but a negative correlation between Al, Pb, Mn, testosterone, SOD levels, and IIEF-5. Conclusion and Recommendations: Welders' metal levels affect reproductive hormones and lead to oxidative stress alterations, both of which could impair male reproductive health. To reduce exposure to welding fumes, it is strongly advised to regularly wear high-quality personal protective equipment, particularly masks and gloves.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of Exposure to Metal Fumes on the Reproductive Health of Male Welders

Ramadan

2023

Egypt. J. Occup. Med.

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“…In males, optimal levels of testosterone exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting the expression and activities of anti-inflammatory cytokines [ 72 ], thus preventing inflammation-induced oxidative stress [ 68 , 73 ]. The observed decline in testosterone in lead-exposed rats aligns with and forms an extension of previous human and animal studies [ 74 , 75 ] that observed a decline in circulating testosterone levels following lead exposure. The present findings suggest that lead-induced suppression of circulating testosterone promotes the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of oxidative stress cascades, resulting in endothelial dysfunction and reduced erectile function.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Zinc improves sexual performance and erectile function by preventing penile oxidative injury and upregulating circulating testosterone in lead-exposed rats

Besong,

Akhigbe,

Ashonibare

et al. 2023

Redox Report

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Aim: The present study evaluated the effect of lead exposure with and without zinc therapy on male sexual and erectile function. Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups; the control, zinc-treated, lead-exposed, lead + zinc-treated groups. Administrations were per os daily for 28 days. Results: Zinc co-administration significantly improved absolute and relative penile weights and the latencies and frequencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculation in lead-exposed rats. Also, zinc ameliorated lead-induced reductions in motivation to mate and penile reflex/erection. These findings were accompanied by attenuation of lead-induced suppression of circulating nitric oxide (NO), penile cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), dopamine, serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone. In addition, zinc alleviated lead-induced upregulation of penile activities of acetylcholinesterase and xanthine oxidase (XO), and uric acid (UA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, zinc ameliorated the lead-induced decline in penile nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities. Conclusion: This study revealed that co-administration of zinc improves lead-induced sexual and erectile dysfunction by suppressing XO/UA-driven oxidative stress and upregulating testosterone via Nrf2-mediated signaling.

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“…The results of these studies is consistent with the results of the current study. On the other hand, a cross-sectional study was done by Dehghan et al 9 , (2019) to investigate the association between BLC and ALC with reproductive hormones of 85 welders working in a water transfer company in Iran. It was found that the mean BLC among welders was 460.28 ± 93.65 μg/L which was significantly higher than the permissible limit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…About 11 million people work as welders in the world; besides, 110 million people are continuously exposed to various levels of welding fumes released during welding process at work. The welding fumes are aerosols consisting of different metals such as lead, ferrous, copper, nickel, magnesium, zinc, cobalt, cadmium, titanium, etc 8,9 . Lead intoxication could be either acute or chronic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Investigation of Lead Concentration in the Breathing Air and the Blood of Automobile Welders in Birjand, Iran

Motamedrezaei

Gholami

Sharifzadeh

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Introduction: Lead is known as one of the most dangerous toxic metals in the world and its entry into the body can cause acute and chronic intoxication with a wide range of systemic symptoms. Our goal in the current research is to study the level of lead in the breathing zone and blood of the automobile welders in Birjand. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 47 automobile welders. The criteria for entering the study included, male gender, having at least 1 year of experience in automobile welding, and at least 8 hours of daily employment in welding. The general information required was collected through a questionnaire. At the beginning of the study, in each working environment air samples were taken in accordance with NIOSH 7082 standards. The analysis of the air lead concentration (ALC) was carried out by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The blood lead concentration (BLC) was measured by NIOSH 8003 method via graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Based on the data, 12.8% of the workers were smokers and 66% used appropriate personal protective equipment. The average ALC was 0.0458 +/- 0.0296 mg/m3 and the average BLC of automobile welders was 9.89 +/- 7.32 μg/dL. Although Pearson correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation between ALCs and BLCs, this correlation was not statistically significant (p = 0.38, r = 0.18). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the average BLC in cigarette smokers and those who did not use PPE was higher than other people; besides, it was higher in individuals over the age of 30 than those under this age. The mean BLC in automobile welders and the mean ALC corresponded to the standards of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).

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The Relationship between Exposure to Lead-Containing Welding Fumes and the Levels of Reproductive Hormones

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Effects of Exposure to Metal Fumes on the Reproductive Health of Male Welders

Effects of Exposure to Metal Fumes on the Reproductive Health of Male Welders

Zinc improves sexual performance and erectile function by preventing penile oxidative injury and upregulating circulating testosterone in lead-exposed rats

An Investigation of Lead Concentration in the Breathing Air and the Blood of Automobile Welders in Birjand, Iran

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