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Seminal plasma trace metal levels in industrial workers.
E B Dawson1, D R Evans, W A Harris
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555, USA.
Biological Trace Element Research
|October 29, 2000
Summary
Industrial workers show altered seminal plasma trace metal levels, with essential metals like copper and zinc increasing, while toxic metals such as lead and aluminum also rise. Essential metals like cobalt and manganese decreased in most industrial groups.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Trace Element Analysis
Background:
- Seminal plasma trace metal levels can be influenced by occupational exposures.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for assessing reproductive health risks in industrial settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare seminal plasma trace metal concentrations between hospital workers and industrial workers in petroleum refinery, smelter, and chemical plants.
- To identify specific essential and toxic metal level differences associated with different industrial exposures.
Main Methods:
- Measured essential (copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, manganese) and toxic (lead, aluminum) metals in seminal plasma.
- Utilized Student's t-test to determine statistical significance of group mean differences.
- Compared 50 industrial workers from each plant type against 50 hospital workers (control group).
Main Results:
- Smelter workers showed increased copper and zinc, decreased nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
- Refinery workers exhibited increased copper, zinc, and nickel, with decreased cobalt and manganese.
- Chemical workers had increased zinc and decreased cobalt.
- All industrial groups displayed elevated seminal plasma levels of lead and aluminum.
Conclusions:
- Occupational exposures in petroleum refineries, smelters, and chemical plants significantly alter seminal plasma trace metal profiles.
- Elevated levels of toxic metals (lead, aluminum) are a consistent finding across industrial settings.
- Specific patterns of essential metal depletion (e.g., cobalt, manganese) are associated with different industrial environments.
