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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects
Published on: April 21, 2022
Ambient manganese exposure is negatively associated with human sperm motility and concentration
Julia J Wirth1, Mary G Rossano, Douglas C Daly
1Department of Epidemiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48823, USA. wirthj@msu.edu
Background:
Occupational and experimental animal studies indicate that exposure to high levels of manganese impairs male fertility, but the effects of ambient manganese in humans are not known.
Methods:
We measured blood levels of manganese and selenium in 200 infertility clinic clients in a cross-sectional study. Correlations between metals and semen variables were determined, adjusting for other risk factors. Outcomes were low motility (<50% motile), low concentration (<20 million/mL), or low morphology (<4% normal). We also investigated dose-response relationships between quartiles of manganese exposure and sperm parameters.
Results:
High manganese level was associated with increased risk of low sperm motility (odds ratio = 5.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.6-17.6) and low sperm concentration (2.4; 1.2-4.9). We saw a U-shaped dose-response pattern between quartiles of manganese exposure and all 3 sperm parameters.
Conclusion:
Ambient exposure to manganese levels is associated with a reduction in sperm motility and concentration. No adverse effects were seen for high selenium.
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