scholarly journals Impact of Heavy Metals on Human Male Fertility—An Overview

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1473
Author(s):  
Andrea López-Botella ◽  
Irene Velasco ◽  
Maribel Acién ◽  
Paula Sáez-Espinosa ◽  
José-Luis Todolí-Torró ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Male Infertility ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Heavy Metal Assessment

Heavy metals are endocrine disruptors which interfere with processes mediated by endogenous hormones of the organism, negatively affecting endocrine functions. Some studies have correlated heavy metal exposure with male infertility. However, the number of studies conducted on humans are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge on how heavy metals influence human male fertility. Hence, three distinct databases were consulted—PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science—using single keywords and combinations of them. The total number of identified articles was 636. Nevertheless, by using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 144 articles were finally included in this work. Results display that the development of adequate instruments for heavy metal assessment may play an important function in human male fertility diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, clinical trials could be useful to confirm the role of heavy metals in human male fertility diagnosis. Overall, further research is required to fully understand the molecular and cellular basis of the influence of environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals on human male infertility and reproductive outcomes.

scholarly journals Maternal Heavy Metal Exposure, Thyroid Hormones, and Birth Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 5043-5052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojie Sun ◽  
Wenyu Liu ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Xiantao Shen ◽  
Chen Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Birth Size ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Maternal Thyroid

AbstractContextMaternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy play a critical role in fetal development. However, whether maternal heavy metal exposure affects their thyroid hormones and the effects on fetal growth are still unclear.ObjectiveTo explore the effect of heavy metal exposure on maternal thyroid hormones and the potential mediation role of thyroid hormones on birth outcomes.MethodsConcentrations of heavy metals in urine samples and thyroid hormones in blood samples of 675 pregnant women were measured during early pregnancy in a cohort study conducted in China. Multivariable linear regressions were applied to explore the associations of maternal urinary heavy metal levels with both maternal thyroid hormones and birth outcomes. Mediation analyses were performed to assess the mediation role of thyroid hormones in these associations.ResultsMaternal urinary vanadium (V) exhibited an inverse association with free T3 (FT3) and FT3/free T4 (FT4) ratio levels. Urinary arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) had inverse relationships with FT3. We also observed the positive associations of maternal FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio with birthweight. The mediation analyses suggested that 5.33% to 30.57% of the associations among V, As, and Pb levels and birth size might be mediated by maternal FT3 or FT3/FT4 ratio.ConclusionsWe have shown that maternal exposures to V, As, and Pb at early pregnancy were associated with decreased maternal FT3 or FT3/FT4 ratio, which might contribute to reduced birthweight. Mediation analyses indicated that maternal thyroid hormone was a possible mediator of the association between urinary heavy metals and birth size.

scholarly journals Relationship between heavy metal exposure and type 2 diabetes: a large-scale retrospective cohort study using occupational health examinations

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e039541
Author(s):  
Jun Ho Ji ◽  
Mi Hyeon Jin ◽  
Jung-Hun Kang ◽  
Soon Il Lee ◽  
Suee Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Lead And Cadmium

ObjectivesTo investigate the associations between heavy metal exposure and serum ferritin levels, physical measurements and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingChangwon, the location of this study, is a Korean representative industrial city. Data were obtained from medical check-ups between 2002 and 2018.ParticipantsA total of 34 814 male subjects were included. Of them, 1035 subjects with lead exposure, 200 subjects with cadmium exposure and the 33 579 remaining were assigned to cohort A, cohort B and the control cohort, respectively. Data including personal history of alcohol and smoking, age, height, weight, the follow-up duration, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood sugar (FBS), ferritin levels, and lead and cadmium levels within 1 year after exposure were collected.Primary outcome measureIn subjects without diabetes, changes in FBS and HbA1c were analysed through repeated tests at intervals of 1 year or longer after the occupational exposure to heavy metals.ResultsIn Cohort A, DM was diagnosed in 33 subjects. There was a significant difference in lead concentrations between the subjects diagnosed with DM and those without DM during the follow-up period (3.94±2.92 mg/dL vs 2.81±2.03 mg/dL, p=0.002). Simple exposure to heavy metals (lead and cadmium) was not associated with DM in Cox regression models (lead exposure (HR) 1.01, 95% CI: 0.58 to 1.77, p 0.971; cadmium exposure HR 1.48, 95% CI: 0.61 to 3.55, p=0.385). Annual changes in FBS according to lead concentration at the beginning of exposure showed a positive correlation (r=0.072, p=0.032).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that simple occupational exposure to heavy metals lead and cadmium was not associated with the incidence of DM. However, lead concentrations at the beginning of the exposure might be an indicator of DM and glucose elevations.

Protective role of selenium in the shortening of telomere length in newborns induced by in utero heavy metal exposure

2020 ◽  
Vol 183 ◽  
pp. 109202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyi Mar Wai ◽  
Masahiro Umezaki ◽  
Mitsutoshi Umemura ◽  
Ohn Mar ◽  
Chiho Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
In Utero ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure

Role of Heavy Metals in the Incidence of Human Cancers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Salvatore Gallicchio ◽  
Juley Harper
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Carcinogenic Potential ◽  
Cadmium Lead ◽  
The Impact

There has been increased concern on many levels focused on the environmental and occupational exposure of heavy metals and their impact on disease, specifically the carcinogenic potential inducing cancer in humans. Because the impact of heavy metals on human health continues to be a major health concern, research continues to improve our understanding of the carcinogenic potential of these substances. Of particular concern have been human exposure to aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and radium and their carcinogenic potential whether contact is via environmental or occupational exposure. This updated review focuses on the carcinogenic mechanisms heavy metals use to induce malignant transformation of cells as well as addressing the overall environmental and occupational hazards of heavy metal exposure.

Compound health risk assessment of cumulative heavy metal exposure: a case study of a village near a battery factory in Henan Province, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1408-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuling Jiang ◽  
Jianhua Ma ◽  
Xinling Ruan ◽  
Xing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Henan Province ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Battery Factory ◽  
Cu And Zn

The concentrations of the heavy metals Hg, As, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn in soil, groundwater, air, and locally produced grain (wheat and corn) and vegetables were determined in a village near a battery factory in Xinxiang, Henan Province, China.

scholarly journals Association between Pb, Cd, and Hg Exposure and Liver Injury among Korean Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6783
Author(s):  
Do-won Kim ◽  
Jeongwon Ock ◽  
Kyong-Whan Moon ◽  
Choong-Hee Park
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Liver Injury ◽  
Liver Function ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Glutamyl Transferase

Background: Exposure to lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) has been reported to be associated with liver-related diseases. However, studies examining the association between heavy metal exposure and liver injury in a large population are scant and characterized by inconsistent results. This study aimed to evaluate the association between levels of heavy metal exposure and liver injury in the general population. Methods: Data for 2953 participants aged 19 years or more obtained from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 3 (2015–2017) were used. The associations between levels of blood or urine heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Hg) and liver function biomarkers [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)] were evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Regarding the blood Pb (BPb), AST was higher in those of the 4th quartile, ALT was higher in those of the 2nd and 4th quartiles, and GGT was higher in those of the 3rd and 4th quartiles than in the 1st quartile. For urinary Cd (UCd), AST was higher in those of the 4th quartile; ALT was higher in those of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles; and GGT was higher in the 4th quartile than in the 1st quartile. For the blood Hg (BHg), AST was higher in those of the 2nd and 4th quartile, ALT was higher in those of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles; and GGT was higher in those of the 3rd and 4th quartiles than in the 1st quartile. There was no significant difference between urinary Hg (UHg) and liver function markers. Conclusion: Heavy metal exposure showed an association with liver injury among the general adult population in Korea. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between heavy metals and liver injury.

scholarly journals Heavy Metal Sources and Their Effects on Human Health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narjala Rama Jyothi
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Atomic Weight ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Iron Cobalt ◽  
Heavy Metals Toxicity ◽  
Route Of Exposure ◽  
Definition Of

Heavy metals are defined in many ways, based on various factors such as density and atomic weight. Some of the heavy metals are essential as nutrients for humans such as iron, cobalt and, zinc in small quantities but are toxic in higher quantities. But few metals, such as lead, cadmium and, mercury are poisonous even in small quantities. The toxicity of heavy metals is depending on concentration,period of exposure and route of exposure. Heavy metal exposure takes place on human beings through inhalation from the atmosphere, intake through drinking water and, ingestion through the skin by dermal contact. The present chapter describes the definition of heavy metals, sources of these heavy metals, toxicity and, their impact on various environmental segments, such as air, water and, soil.

scholarly journals ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION IN VEGETABLES DRIED ALONG FUNTUA-DANJA HIGHWAY KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 467-471
Author(s):  
U. M. Kankara ◽  
Rabiu Nasiru ◽  
Nuraddeen Nasiru Garba ◽  
Jamila Musa Kankara ◽  
Umar Musa Kankara
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Heavy Metal Contamination ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Heavy Metal Concentration ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Concentration Levels

One of the major routes of heavy metal exposure to humans is via the consumption of vegetable. The study assessed the contribution of automobile emission on the concentration levels of heavy metals in some of commonly consumed vegetables in Katsina state, Nigeria using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Fresh and dried samples of five (5) commonly consumed vegetables were obtained from Danja-Funtua highway road, 0.5 g of each sample was measured into a clean dried beaker and 10 ml of acidic mixture of HNO3/HClO4 in ratio 2:1 was added to the sample for digestion. The heavy metals concentration in this study ranges from 0.6 – 75.5mg/kg, 0.31 – 1.2mg/kg 278 – 1470mg/kg, 0.4 – 36.3mg/kg and 28 – 65 mg/kg for Pb, Cd, Fe, Ni and Cu respectively. Levels of heavy metals were all found to be above the acceptable limits indicating that inhabitants are at risk of heavy metal contamination

scholarly journals Assessment of residents’ total environmental exposure to heavy metals in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuge Zhao ◽  
Zhenglei Li ◽  
Danlu Wang ◽  
Ji Li ◽  
Bin Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Environmental Exposure ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollution ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Abstract Heavy metal pollution in the air, water, and soil has attracted substantial interest recently; however, assessment of the total human environmental exposure remains limited. Therefore, determining the total human environmental exposure is imperative for the management and control of heavy metal pollution. This study assessed the total environmental exposure levels of heavy metals as well as the exposure contributions of air, water, and soil, focusing on Hg, Cd, As, Pb, and Cr. Data from 3,855 volunteers from the cities of Taiyuan, Dalian, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Lanzhou allowed for comparison of the exposures in urban and rural areas. The levels of total human environmental exposure of Hg, Cd, As, Pb, and Cr were 1.82 × 10−6 mg/(kg·d), 1.58 × 10−6 mg/(kg·d), 3.87 × 10−5 mg/(kg·d), 1.79 × 10−5 and 7.47 × 10−5 mg/(kg·d), respectively. There were regional, urban-rural, sex, and age differences in the levels of heavy metal exposure. Water pollution was determined to be the largest contributor to heavy metal exposure, accounting for 97.87%, 92.50%, 80.51%, 76.16% and 79.46% of the Hg, Cd, As, Pb, and Cr, followed by air and soil pollution. These results can provide data to inform environmental protection policies and identify the priority pollutants that can help identify and prevent health risks due to overexposure to these heavy metal pollutants.

Ionic regulation and shell mineralization in the bivalve Anodonta cygnea (swan mussel) following heavy-metal exposure

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Lopes-Lima ◽  
Susana Freitas ◽  
Liliana Pereira ◽  
Eugenia Gouveia ◽  
Mariana Hinzmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Kidney Tissue ◽  
Sublethal Concentration ◽  
Shell Morphology ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Nacreous Layer ◽  
Heavy Metal Exposure ◽  
Anodonta Cygnea ◽  
Accumulation Pattern

Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled faunistic groups in the world and environmental exposure to toxic heavy metals, which result in deregulation of calcium absorption and deposition in the laboratory, may be a contributing factor in their decline. To address potential effects of heavy-metal exposure on calcium transport and metabolism in freshwater bivalves, adult Anodonta cygnea (L., 1758) were exposed to a sublethal concentration (1.0 × 10−6 mol/L) of essential (Zn2+ and Cu2+) or nonessential (Pb2+ and Cr3+) metal for 30 days in the laboratory. Inorganic composition of extrapallial, haemolymph, heart, and pericardium fluids, and kidney tissue, as well as shell morphology by scanning electron microscopy, were compared in treated and untreated mussels. Calcium levels in fluids varied after exposure to any of the metals investigated, although the magnitude and threshold of effect were metal- and compartment-specific. Ca2+ levels increased robustly in all fluids following exposure to Zn2+, Cu2+, or Cr3+, whereas levels decreased significantly in heart fluid alone following Pb2+ exposure (p < 0.05). In constrast to exposure to the other metals, Cu2+ revealed an interesting reverse-accumulation pattern, decreasing in the fluids but not in the kidney, where it clearly accumulates for excretion. In addition, whereas essential Cu2+ and Zn2+ are closely regulated, the nonessential metals Pb2+ and Cr3+ increase to very high levels. Drastic alterations in shell morphology, specifically the structure of border and inner pallial regions of the nacreous layer, were observed after Cu2+ or Cr3+ exposure. Collectively, data suggest that prolonged exposure to a sublethal concentration of these heavy metals can adversely affect compartmental calcium availability and shell composition in A. cygnea.

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