Seminal Plasma Levels of Heavy Metals (Lead, Cadmium and Arsenic) and Oxidative Status in Asthnozoospermic Men

Background: Recent evidence suggests a decline in sperm quality due to exposure to environmental toxicants. Several studies have reported the adverse effects of heavy metals on human reproductive efficiency. Objectives: This study analyzed the seminal levels of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and arsenic) and oxidative status, evaluating their relationships with sperm parameters in men from Ahvaz, southwest Iran. Methods: Semen quality, seminal lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activity were assessed in 100 men attending the Narges Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis Laboratory in Ahvaz, southwest Iran. Sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology were analyzed following the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2010). Seminal levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic were determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Higher seminal levels of lead and cadmium were observed in asthenozoospermic men compared with normozoospermic individuals. Seminal levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic exhibited significant negative correlations with sperm concentration, total motility, and normal morphology. Additionally, higher concentrations of seminal lead and cadmium were associated with increased seminal levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Conclusions: The findings suggest an association between sperm quality and seminal oxidative status with seminal levels of lead and cadmium in men from Ahvaz, southwest Iran.