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Associations of Semen Quality with Seminal Non-essential Heavy Metals in Males from the Canary Islands

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Abstract

Semen quality and levels of non-essential metals such as strontium (Sr), aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and vanadium (V) were measured. Metals were determined by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry) in semen samples from 102 men who were recruited in a Reproduction Unit in the Canary Islands. The presence of each metal was as follows: Sr: 56.9%, Al: 73.5%, Pb: 45.1%, Ni: 15.7%, and V: 79.4% of the samples. No significant differences were found in the relationship between the spermiogram, the sperm motility, and the concentration of spermatozoa levels of non-essential metals. It is noteworthy that Ni levels tend to be lower in patients with oligozoospermia (t (46.4) = 1.84; p = 0.070). Between lifestyle and non-essential metals, there was a significant relationship between the level of occupational exposure to metals and Ni (χ2(2) = 13.91; p = 0.001). We did not find significant differences in non-essential seminal metal content and smoking status but, there were differences between drinkers and the concentration of V in semen (t (100) = −1.99; p = 0.050). The occupational exposure to metals and place of residence have effects on Al and V levels in semen. Regarding obesity, significant differences were found in Pb levels (t (18.0) = 2.34; p = 0.031). Obese patients have a lower Pb level, and the percentage of progressive sperm motility was lower in obese men (t (98) = 2.14; p = 0.035). The detection of metals in semen opens a new field in the study of male infertility with the possibility of performing treatments aimed at correcting these possible anomalies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Reproduction Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Rubí Rodríguez-Díaz, Lourdes Alcaide-Ruggiero, Sonsoles Rodríguez-Fiestas, Jonay González-Pérez & Raquel Blanes-Zamora

  2. Toxicology, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Ángel J. Gutiérrez, Arturo Hardisson, Carmen Rubio, Soraya Paz & Dailos González-Weller

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Stephany Hess-Medler

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  1. Rubí Rodríguez-Díaz
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Rodríguez-Díaz, R., Alcaide-Ruggiero, L., Rodríguez-Fiestas, S. et al. Associations of Semen Quality with Seminal Non-essential Heavy Metals in Males from the Canary Islands. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 4525–4534 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02605-5

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