Light and transmission electron microscopic comparisons of sperms between petrochemical factory workers and public servants in a nonindustrialized area

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 94; no. 7; pp. 2864 - 2867
• Main Authors: Kim, Tae-Hyoung, M.D., Ph.D, Myung, Soon-Chul, M.D., Ph.D, Hong, Yeon-pyo, Ph.D, Yang, Yun-jung, Kim, Sang-Yon, Kim, Sae Chul, M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.12.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chemical Industry; Geography; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Industry; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microscopy, Polarization; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Petroleum; Public Sector - manpower; Republic of Korea; Semen Analysis; Sperm; Spermatozoa - cytology; Spermatozoa - ultrastructure; ultrastructure; worker; Republic of Korea; ultrastructure; petroleum; worker; Sperm; Semen; Gynecology; Transmission; Public area; Electron microscopy; Obstetrics; Anatomic pathology; Optical microscopy; Ultrastructure; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.04.050

In this study, we compared the semen characteristics on light microscopy and ultrastructural sperm morphology on transmission electron microscopy between workers in an industrialized area with petrochemical complexes and public servants in a nonindustrialized area. Occupational exposure to petrochemical compounds seems to decrease sperm motility and deteriorate the sperm ultrastructural arrangement, which may lead to this decrease in sperm motility.