Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the association of exposure to metal mixtures with semen quality and sperm DNA integrity of coke oven workers (n = 96). Urinary six metals (cadmium, lead, arsenic, zinc, selenium, and copper) were quantified using inductively coupled-mass spectrometry. Semen quality parameters included sperm concentration, sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm morphology, and sperm viability. Sperm DNA fragmentation and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) adducts served as biomarkers for assessing sperm DNA integrity. Bayesian kernel machine regression with the hierarchical variable selection process was used for analyzing both individual and joint effects of the metal mixture on the outcomes of semen samples, while adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, job length, and body mass index. The metal mixture was associated with reduced sperm concentration, motility, viability, and normal morphology. It was novel that a dose-response relationship was observed between exposure of the metal mixture and semen quality. Among the metals tested, cadmium had a reverse relationship with sperm motility, viability, and normal morphology, and a non-linear relationship with sperm viability and sperm motility. The metal mixture and individual metals were not associated with sperm DNA fragmentation and 8-oxodGuo. In conclusion, exposure to metal mixtures and cadmium may exert an association with semen quality and had no association with sperm DNA breakages.

摘要

本研究的目的是评估接触金属混合物与焦炉工人精液质量和精子 DNA 完整性的关系（n = 96)。使用电感耦合质谱法对尿液中的六种金属（镉、铅、砷、锌、硒和铜）进行了量化。精液质量参数包括精子浓度、精子浓度、精子活力、精子形态和精子活力。精子 DNA 片段化和 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) 加合物作为评估精子 DNA 完整性的生物标志物。使用分层变量选择过程的贝叶斯核机器回归分析金属混合物对精液样本结果的个体和联合影响，同时调整年龄、吸烟、饮酒、工作时间和体重指数。金属混合物与降低的精子浓度、活力、活力和正常形态有关。在金属混合物的暴露和精液质量之间观察到剂量反应关系是新颖的。在测试的金属中，镉与精子活力、活力和正常形态呈反向关系，与精子活力和精子活力呈非线性关系。金属混合物和个别金属与精子 DNA 断裂和 8-oxodGuo 无关。总之，暴露于金属混合物和镉可能与精液质量有关，而与精子 DNA 断裂无关。金属混合物和个别金属与精子 DNA 断裂和 8-oxodGuo 无关。总之，暴露于金属混合物和镉可能与精液质量有关，而与精子 DNA 断裂无关。金属混合物和个别金属与精子 DNA 断裂和 8-oxodGuo 无关。总之，暴露于金属混合物和镉可能与精液质量有关，而与精子 DNA 断裂无关。