title: Toxic trace metals and human oocytes during in vitro fertilization (IVF).
abstract: Trace exposures to the toxic metals mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) may threaten human reproductive health. The aim of this study is to generate biologically-plausible hypotheses concerning associations between Hg, Cd, and Pb and in vitro fertilization (IVF) endpoints. For 15 female IVF patients, a multivariable log-binomial model suggests a 75% reduction in the probability for a retrieved oocyte to be in metaphase-II arrest for each microg/dL increase in blood Pb concentration (relative risk (RR)=0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03-2.50, P=0.240). For 15 male IVF partners, each microg/L increase in urine Cd concentration is associated with an 81% decrease in the probability for oocyte fertilization (RR=0.19, 95% CI 0.03-1.35, P=0.097). Because of the magnitude of the effects, these results warrant a comprehensive study with sufficient statistical power to further evaluate these hypotheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA. mbloom@uamail.albany.edu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Steuerwald
authors.forename: Enrique F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Schisterman
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: Keewan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Coccaro
authors.forename: Giulia C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: Victor Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood; D008677:Metaphase; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D008628:Mercury