Effect of smoking on blood lead levels in workers and role of reactive oxygen species in lead-induced sperm chromatin DNA damage.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether cigarette smoking affects the blood lead levels (BLL) and whether exposure to lead introduces sperm chromatin DNA damage in factory workers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A battery plant in Taiwan.


METHODS
Eighty male workers employed within a battery plant.


METHODS
Standard semen analysis was performed according to the World Health Organization guidelines.


METHODS
Assessment of BLL, sperm chromatin DNA structure, reactive oxygen species generation and other conventional parameters of semen quality.


RESULTS
As compared with nonsmoking workers, the BLL were found to be considerably higher among smokers. Statistically significant differences were found in the sperm DNA denaturation (alphaT) induction and the percentage of sperm with increased DNA denaturation (COMP alphaT) in workers with moderate BLL (>or=25 microg/dL). After adjustment for smoking propensity, a positive correlation was discernible between BLL and alphaT, COMP alphaT, and morphologic abnormality. Furthermore, alphaT and COMP alphaT were also found to have positive correlations with sperm superoxide anion production.


CONCLUSIONS
Workers with higher BLL were found to be at a higher risk of sperm morphologic abnormality and chromatin DNA integrity. These data are significant because they can facilitate the estimation of lead exposure in reproductive toxicology.
Hsu
Ping-Chi
PC
Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chang
Ho-Yuan
HY
Guo
Yueliang Leon
YL
Liu
Yen-Chun
YC
Shih
Tung-Sheng
TS
D000328:Adult; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D002843:Chromatin; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007854:Lead