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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Exposure to mercury and human reproductive health: A systematic review
Magda Carvalho Henriques1, Susana Loureiro2, Margarida Fardilha1
1Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
Background:
Evidences from human and animal studies suggest that reproductive function may be affected by mercury. The aim of this review was to explore the mercury influence on human fertility.
Methods:
A systematic search was made in PubMED for papers published between 1975-2017, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Results:
Increased mercury levels were associated with infertility or subfertility status. Further, infertile subjects with unexplained infertility showed higher levels of mercury in hair, blood and urine than fertile ones. Mercury exposure induced sperm DNA damage and abnormal sperm morphology and motility. Additionally, mercury levels were related with higher incidence of menstrual and hormonal disorders and increased rates of adverse reproductive outcomes.
Conclusions:
Our review showed that mercury negatively impacts human reproduction, affecting the reproductive and endocrine systems in both male and female. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the mercury-associated decline on fertility remains unknown.
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