Correlations between Different Heavy Metals in Diverse Body Fluids: Studies of Human Semen Quality

It has been hypothesized that exposure to heavy metals may impair male reproduction. To measure the effect produced by low doses of heavy metals on semen parameters, it is necessary to clarify in which body fluids those measurements must be performed. Sixty-one men attending infertility clinics participated in our study. Concentrations of lead, cadmium, and mercury were measured in whole blood, blood plasma, and seminal plasma using spectroanalytical and electrochemical methods. Semen analyses were performed according to World Health Organization criteria. For statistical analysis, Spearman's rank correlations, mean comparison tests, and discriminant analysis were calculated. Significant correlations between the measured concentrations of the three heavy metals in the same biological fluids were observed. However, no similar relationship was seen when comparing the concentrations in different body fluids of the same metal. According to our results and previous publications, seminal plasma might be the best body fluid for assessing impairment of human semen parameters

Relationships between heavy metal concentrations in three different body fluids and male reproductive parameters: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal studies have shown the reproductive toxicity of a number of heavy metals. Very few human observational studies have analyzed the relationship between male reproductive function and heavy metal concentrations in diverse biological fluids.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The current study assessed the associations between seminal and hormonal parameters and the concentration of the 3 most frequent heavy metal toxicants (lead, cadmium and mercury) in three different body fluids. Sixty one men attending infertility clinics that participated in a case-control study to explore the role of environmental toxins and lifestyles on male infertility were analyzed. Concentration of lead, cadmium and mercury were measured in blood and seminal plasma and whole blood using anodic stripping voltammetry and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum samples were analyzed for follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone. Semen analyses were performed according to World Health Organization criteria. Mann-Whitney test and Spearman's rank correlations were used for unadjusted analyses. Multiple linear regression models were performed controlling for age, body mass index and number of cigarettes per day.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant differences between cases and controls in the concentrations of heavy metals in any of the three body fluids. In multivariate analyses using all subjects no significant associations were found between serum hormone levels and metal concentrations. However there was a significant positive association between the percentage of immotile sperms and seminal plasma levels of lead and cadmium.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that the presence of lead and cadmium in the reproductive tract of men may be related to a moderate alteration of their seminal parameters.</p

Investigación en contaminación atmosférica en Cartagena: Aerobiología y Toxicología Ambiental y Química del Medio Ambiente

La preocupación por la contaminación atmosférica en Cartagena de los Grupos de Investigación "Aerobiología y Toxicología Ambiental" y "Química del Medio Ambiente" surge en parte de sus miembros ya en la década de los 70 del siglo pasado. Desde entonces, Cartagena ha experimentado significativos episodios de contaminación que han llevado a las diferentes autoridades a implementar medidas de subsanación. En la persecución de estas mejoras neustros grupos de investigación han aportado su ayuda y lo siguen haciendo: sea el caso de las tesis doctorales que a día de hoy están en proceso de redacción y versans obre estos temas. Proponemos aquí una revisión de los trabajos que se realizan y de algunos de los últimos hallazgos de los grupos, presentando el equipamiento y medios para la buena práctica científicaMinisterio de Educación y Ciencia "Formación del Profesorado Universitario (FPU)