Associations between blood metal/ metalloid concentration and human semen quality and sperm function: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong

• Published in: Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology 2021-05, Vol.65, p.126735, Article 126735
• Main Authors: Shi, Xiao, Chan, Carol Pui Shan, Man, Grace Ka Yan, Chan, David Yiu Leung, Wong, Ming Hung, Li, Tin-Chiu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrosome reaction; Heavy metals; Semen analysis; Sperm function
• ISSN: 0946-672X; 1878-3252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126735

The association between metal/metalloid exposure on human sperm quality is still inconclusive. There is a lack of data on the effect of metal/metalloid on sperm function. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between blood metal/metalloid concentration and traditional and functional sperm parameters, the blood concentration of Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Ni, Mo, Zn, Cu, Se, Fe, Mg, Cr and Ca of 288 men in Hong Kong were assessed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and sperm parameters including sperm concentration, motility, morphology, vitality, total sperm count, total motile sperm count, sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm acrosome reaction were measured. Demographic and lifestyle questionnaires were also provided for all participants. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to test the association between blood metal/ metalloid concentration and semen parameters after adjusting for relevant confounding variables. The results showed that moderate to high level of blood Pb concentration (>27.19 μg/L) appeared to be negatively associated with sperm morphology (P 1.44 μg/L) was negatively associated with sperm acrosome reaction (P