Traffic pollutants affect fertility in men.
BACKGROUND
Given the lack of consensus about the effect of traffic-derived pollutants on male fertility, we evaluated semen quality in men occupationally exposed to traffic.


METHODS
Semen quality was investigated in 85 men employed at motorway tollgates and in 85 age-matched men living in the same area. Semen, circulating sex hormones, methaemoglobin, sulphaemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin, lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) protoporphyrin were assayed. Environmental carbonium oxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and Pb were also measured.


RESULTS
Sperm count, and serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were within normal range in both groups. Total motility, forward progression, functional tests and sperm kinetics were significantly lower in tollgate workers versus controls. In a subset of tollgate workers with motility below normal, methaemoglobin was inversely correlated with total motility, viability, the hypo-osmotic swelling test, the acridine orange test, the cervical mucus penetration test, linearity, and amplitude of lateral movement of the sperm head, whereas blood levels of Pb were inversely correlated with viability and sperm count.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding that blood methaemoglobin and Pb were inversely correlated with sperm parameters indicates that nitrogen oxide and Pb adversely affect semen quality.
Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Department of Preventive Medical Sciences and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Italy. miderosa@unina.it
Michele
M
De Rosa
Stefano
S
Zarrilli
Luigi
L
Paesano
Umberto
U
Carbone
Bartolomeo
B
Boggia
Mario
M
Petretta
Antonella
A
Maisto
Francesca
F
Cimmino
Giancarmelo
G
Puca
Annamaria
A
Colao
Gaetano
G
Lombardi
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone