Human semen as an early, sensitive biomarker of highly polluted living environment in healthy men: A pilot biomonitoring study on trace elements in blood and semen and their relationship with sperm quality and RedOx status.
The Campania region in Italy is facing an environmental crisis due to the illegal disposal of toxic waste. Herein, a pilot study (EcoFoodFertility initiative) was conducted to investigate the use of human semen as an early biomarker of pollution on 110 healthy males living in various areas of Campania with either high or low environmental impact. The semen from the "high impact" group showed higher zinc, copper, chromium and reduced iron levels, as well as reduced sperm motility and higher sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). Redox biomarkers (total antioxidant capacity, TAC, and glutathione, GSH) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in semen were lower in the "high impact" group. The percentage of immotile spermatozoa showed a significant inverse correlation with TAC and GSH. Overall, several semen parameters (reduced sperm quality and antioxidant defenses, altered chemical element pattern), which were associated with residence in a high polluted environment, could be used in a further larger scale study, as early biomarkers of environmental pollution.
Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISA), via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy. Electronic address: paolo.bergamo@isa.cnr.it.
Paolo
P
Bergamo
Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISA), via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy. Electronic address: mgvolpe@isa.cnr.it.
Maria Grazia
MG
Volpe
Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Dept. of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: stefano.lorenzetti@iss.it.
Stefano
S
Lorenzetti
Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Dept. of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: alberto.mantovani@iss.it.
Alberto
A
Mantovani
Infertility Center of the "San Luca" Hospital, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, via Francesco Cammarota, Vallo della Lucania (SA), Italy. Electronic address: tiziananotari7@gmail.com.
Tiziana
T
Notari
Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council (CNR-IBBR), Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: ennio.cocca@ibbr.cnr.it.
Ennio
E
Cocca
Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISA), via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy. Electronic address: dyer88@hotmail.it.
Stefano
S
Cerullo
Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISA), via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy. Electronic address: michele.distasio@isa.cnr.it.
Michele
M
Di Stasio
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno (IZSM), via della Salute 2, 80055 Portici (NA), Italy. Electronic address: strategia@izsmportici.it.
Pellegrino
P
Cerino
Andrology Unit of the "San Francesco d'Assisi" Hospital, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, EcoFoodFertility Project Coordination Unit, via M. Clemente, 84020 Oliveto Citra (SA), Italy. Electronic address: l.montano@aslsalerno.it.
Luigi
L
Montano
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D005978:Glutathione; D001151:Arsenic
DNA damage; Environmental pollution; RedOx status; Semen quality; Trace elements