Cadmium, lead, selenium, and zinc in semen of occupationally unexposed men

Concentrations of cadmium, lead, selenium, and zinc were determined in semen and seminal plasma of 22 volunteers by atomic absorption spectrometry. Additionally conventional semen parameters and, by means of computer videomicrography, motion parameters of spermatozoa were evaluated. Concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn determined in semen were not significantly different from those measured in seminal plasma. However, selenium levels were significantly higher in semen (53.8 +/- 22.9 micrograms l-1) than in seminal plasma (40.4 +/- 15.5 micrograms l-1, P < 0.01). The investigated semen samples on average contained low levels of Cd (0.4 +/- 0.23 micrograms l-1) and Pb (9.8 +/- 6.5 micrograms l-1). Studies on the intra-individual variability revealed the following average coefficients of variation (%) for element concentrations: Pb (70), Cd (53), Se (27), and Zn (23); and for semen parameters: total sperm count (46), sperm concentration (37), motility (22), ejaculate volume (21), linearity (19), linear velocity (11), curvilinear velocity (10), and percentage of normally formed sperm (9). Significant positive correlations were detected between semen selenium levels and sperm concentration (r = 0.51, P < 0.05), and percentage of normally formed sperm (r = 0.46, P < 0.05), respectively. Sperm motility (r = 0.53, P < 0.02), linear (r = 0.76, P < 0.001) and curvilinear velocity (r = 0.64, P < 0.002) were significantly correlated with semen cadmium levels.