Correlations between Different Heavy Metals in Diverse Body Fluids: Studies of Human Semen Quality.
It has been hypothesized that exposure to heavy metals may impair male reproduction. To measure the effect produced by low doses of heavy metals on semen parameters, it is necessary to clarify in which body fluids those measurements must be performed. Sixty-one men attending infertility clinics participated in our study. Concentrations of lead, cadmium, and mercury were measured in whole blood, blood plasma, and seminal plasma using spectroanalytical and electrochemical methods. Semen analyses were performed according to World Health Organization criteria. For statistical analysis, Spearman's rank correlations, mean comparison tests, and discriminant analysis were calculated. Significant correlations between the measured concentrations of the three heavy metals in the same biological fluids were observed. However, no similar relationship was seen when comparing the concentrations in different body fluids of the same metal. According to our results and previous publications, seminal plasma might be the best body fluid for assessing impairment of human semen parameters.
Public Health and Epidemiology Research Group, Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Espinardo 30100, Murcia, Spain.
Lidia
L
Mínguez-Alarcón
Jaime
J
Mendiola
Manuela
M
Roca
José J
JJ
López-Espín
José J
JJ
Guillén
José M
JM
Moreno
Stella
S
Moreno-Grau
María J
MJ
Martínez-García
Nuria
N
Vergara-Juárez
Belén
B
Elvira-Rendueles
Antonio
A
García-Sánchez
Jorge
J
Ten
Rafael
R
Bernabeu
Alberto M
AM
Torres-Cantero