Mercury in urine and ejaculate in husbands of barren couples

doi:10.1016/0378-4274(96)03742-3

Toxicology Letters

Volume 88, Issues 1–3, November 1996, Pages 227-231

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4274(96)03742-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

Mercury concentrations in morning urine and ejaculate were detected in 80 husbands of women presenting for infertility treatment. Additionally, the number of their dental amalgam fillings was documented. A routine spermiogram was performed, from which a numerical “fertility index” was calculated. Urinary mercury concentrations were in the range of non-exposed populations, only minute Hg concentrations were determined in ejaculate, 75% of the semen sample concentrations were under the detection limit of 5 μg/l. In comparison, 7 proven fertile workers with occupational mercury exposure had elevated levels of mercury in their ejaculates (range 10–65 μg/l). No positive correlation could be established between subject mercury concentrations in urine or ejaculate and the quality of their semen, expressed as fertility index. Equally, no such correlation could be established between the fertility index and the number of their dental amalgam fillings. From these preliminary data no evidence can be derived for the alleged relation between the mercury burden from dental amalgam fillings and male fertility disorders.

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Citation Excerpt :
The age range of the subjects was 18–67 years old. Most of the studies did not find significant correlations between Hg concentration in biological samples and semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) [22,25,29,34,37,44,49,51,56]. Hanf et al. [25] recruited 80 men from a fertility clinic to correlate the Hg concentration in urine and ejaculate semen with the semen quality parameters.
Evidences from human and animal studies suggest that reproductive function may be affected by mercury. The aim of this review was to explore the mercury influence on human fertility.
A systematic search was made in PubMED for papers published between 1975–2017, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Increased mercury levels were associated with infertility or subfertility status. Further, infertile subjects with unexplained infertility showed higher levels of mercury in hair, blood and urine than fertile ones. Mercury exposure induced sperm DNA damage and abnormal sperm morphology and motility. Additionally, mercury levels were related with higher incidence of menstrual and hormonal disorders and increased rates of adverse reproductive outcomes.
Our review showed that mercury negatively impacts human reproduction, affecting the reproductive and endocrine systems in both male and female. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the mercury-associated decline on fertility remains unknown.
Non-invasive matrices in human biomonitoring: A review
2009, Environment International
Humans and other living organisms are exposed to a variety of chemical pollutants that are released into the environment as a consequence of anthropogenic activities. Environmental pollutants are incorporated into the organism by different routes and can then be stored and distributed in different tissues, which leads to an internal concentration that can induce different alterations, adverse effects and/or diseases. Control measures should be taken to avoid these effects and human biomonitoring is a very useful tool that can contribute to this aim. Human biomonitoring uses different matrices to measure the target chemicals depending on the chemical, the amount of matrix necessary for the analysis and the detection limit (LOD) of the analytical technique. Blood is the ideal matrix for most chemicals due to its contact with the whole organism and its equilibrium with organs and tissues where chemicals are stored. However, it has an important disadvantage of being an invasive matrix. The development of new methodology and modern analytical techniques has allowed the use of other matrices that are less or non-invasive, such as saliva, urine, meconium, nails, hair, and semen or breast milk. The presence of a chemical in these matrices reflects an exposure, but correlations between levels in non-invasive matrices and blood must be established to ensure that these levels are related to the total body burden. The development of new biomarkers that are measurable in these matrices will improve non-invasive biomonitoring. This paper reviews studies that measure Cd, Pb, Hg, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides and phthalates in non-invasive matrices, the most used techniques for measurements and what alternative techniques are available.
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Infertility, blood mercury concentrations and dietary seafood consumption: A case-control study
2002, BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
To compare blood mercury concentrations of infertile couples with those of fertile couples in Hong Kong, and to examine the relationship between blood mercury concentrations and seafood consumption.
Case–control study.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) Unit and Antenatal Unit of a university teaching hospital.
One hundred fifty-seven infertile couples attending IVF treatment and 26 fertile couples attending antenatal care without known occupational exposure to mercury.
Mercury concentrations in whole blood were measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A dietitian recorded the quantity of seafood consumption among infertile couples via a food-frequency questionnaire. Blood mercury concentrations and quantity of seafood consumption were compared between infertile and fertile couples.
Whole blood mercury concentrations, quantity of seafood consumption.
Infertile couples had higher blood mercury concentrations than fertile couples. ‘Infertile males with abnormal semen’ and ‘infertile females with unexplained infertility’ also had higher blood mercury concentrations than their fertile counterparts. Blood mercury concentrations were positively correlated with quantity of seafood consumption. Infertile subjects with elevated blood mercury concentrations consumed a larger amount of seafood.
Higher blood mercury concentration is associated with male and female infertility. Higher seafood consumption is associated with elevated blood mercury concentrations in our infertile population.
Relationship between semen parameters and mercury concentrations in blood and in seminal fluid from subfertile males in Hong Kong [2]
2002, Fertility and Sterility
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid residues in semen of Ontario farmers
1999, Reproductive Toxicology
Although paternal exposures to environmental toxicants probably play a role in adverse pregnancy outcomes, few data are available on the extent of this exposure. One semen and two 24-h urine samples were collected from 97 Ontario farmers who had recently used the phenoxy herbicides 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and/or MCPA ([4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy] acetic acid). Both samples were analyzed for 2,4-D using an immunoassay-based technique. Approximately 50% of the semen samples had detectable levels of 2,4-D (≥5.0 ppb (ng/mL)). Semen levels of 2,4-D were correlated more closely with the second of the two urine samples. Although several studies have measured 2,4-D in the urine of applicators, this study is the first to attempt to measure 2,4-D levels in semen. As these pesticides can be excreted in the semen, they could be toxic to sperm cells and be transported to the woman and developing embryo/fetus. Further research is needed to understand how pesticide handling practices can affect semen pesticide residues and the relationship between the levels observed and reproductive health.

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Mercury in urine and ejaculate in husbands of barren couples

Abstract

Lancet

Toxicol. Lett.

Adverse effects of environmental chemicals on the outcome of human pregnancy

Effects of Metals on Male Reproduction

Environmental pollutants and fertility disorders. Heavy metals and minerals

Geburtshilfe-Frauenheilkd

Paternal exposure to mercury and spontaneous abortions

Br. J. Ind. Med.

Effect of organic and inorganic mercury on human sperm motility

Pharm. Tox.

Effects of mercury on spermatogenesis studied by velocity sedimentation cell separation and serial mating

J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.