Aluminium, lead and cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma and spermatozoa, and semen quality in Finnish men

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 115 - 119
• Main Authors: Hovatta, O, Venäläinen, E R, Kuusimäki, L, Heikkilä, J, Hirvi, T, Reima, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.01.1998
• Subjects: Air; Aluminum - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cadmium - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Chemical Industry; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Finland; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lead - metabolism; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Medical sciences; Morphology. Physiology; Occupational Health; Semen - metabolism; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa - metabolism; Toxicology; Vertebrates: reproduction; Finland; Human; Cadmium; Spermatozoa; Fertilizing ability; Semen; Toxicity; Mobility; Male; Factory; Aluminium; Refinery; Germinal cell; Heavy metal; Pollutant; Lead; Male sterility; Poison; Olefin polymer; Seminal plasma; Fecundity; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/13.1.115

Aluminium, cadmium and lead concentrations in the spermatozoa and seminal plasma of 27 employees of two industrial companies, a refinery and a polyolefin factory, and 45 consecutive sperm donor candidates at a sperm bank were studied using atomic absorption measurements. The relationship between metal concentration and parameters of semen analysis was studied. A high concentration of aluminium in spermatozoa was correlated with decreased sperm motility. The concentrations of cadmium and lead were low and did not show any correlation with parameters of semen analysis. Aluminium may be one of the environmental pollutants causing impaired semen quality. The mean sperm concentrations were similar in the factory employees (96 x 10(6)/ml), in the sperm donor candidates of the comparison group (104 x 10(6)/ml) and in 352 donor candidates at the sperm bank of the Family Federation of Finland (107 x 10(6)/ml) between May 1993 and May 1995.