Home Medicine The impact of heavy metals exposure on male fertility: a scoping review of human studies
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The impact of heavy metals exposure on male fertility: a scoping review of human studies

  • Carlo Giulioni ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Federico Falsetti , Valentina Maurizi , Francesco Del Giudice , Felice Crocetto , Ciro Imbimbo and Angelo Cafarelli
Published/Copyright: April 22, 2025
Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology
From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 36 Issue 2-3

Abstract

Introduction

Male infertility is a critical global health issue, with environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As), impacting male reproductive health. This scoping review aims to evaluate the effects of heavy metal exposure on semen parameters.

Content

This study adhered to the 2020 PRISMA framework. A broad literature search was performed on January 2025, using Embase, PUBMED, and Scopus. A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus on January 12, 2025, using a combination of Medical Subject terms and keywords.

Summary

Of the 1,709 identified studies, 21 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Findings indicate that lead exposure negatively impacts sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, primarily through oxidative stress and enzymatic inhibition. Cadmium disrupts the blood-testis barrier and acrosomal function, leading to sperm abnormalities. Arsenic exposure is linked to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and impaired sperm motility.

Outlook

The cumulative evidence supports a strong association between heavy metal exposure and male infertility. This review underscores the need for stricter occupational safety regulations and environmental policies to mitigate heavy metal exposure.

Keywords: heavy metals; male infertility; semen parameters; lead; cadmium
Corresponding author: Carlo Giulioni, Department of Urology, Casa di Cura Villa Igea, 60127 Ancona, Italy, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

CG: project development, manuscript writing, and data collection, FF: project development. VM: Data collection and analysis. FDG: Data collection. FC: Manuscript editing. CI: Manuscript editing. AC: Project development and manuscript editing.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: Not applicable.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2025-03-10
Accepted: 2025-04-04
Published Online: 2025-04-22

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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  4. Incretin-based therapies: advancements, challenges, and future directions in type 2 diabetes management
  5. Point-of-care testing: revolutionizing clinical biochemistry using decentralized diagnostics
  6. The impact of heavy metals exposure on male fertility: a scoping review of human studies
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  9. Original Articles
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  13. Elevated seminal plasma leptin may correlate with varicocele presence and BMI
  14. Clinical significance of detectable blood lead and cadmium in the Sarno river basin population: results from the PREVES-STOP study
  15. Outcomes of systemic thrombolysis with reteplase in high-risk acute pulmonary embolism
  16. The pharmacokinetics and comparative bioavailabilty of oral and subcutaneous semaglutide in healthy volunteers
  17. Short Communications
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https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2025-0049
Keywords for this article
heavy metals; male infertility; semen parameters; lead; cadmium

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Navigating nephropathy and nephrotoxicity: understanding pathophysiology unveiling clinical manifestations, and exploring treatment approaches
  4. Incretin-based therapies: advancements, challenges, and future directions in type 2 diabetes management
  5. Point-of-care testing: revolutionizing clinical biochemistry using decentralized diagnostics
  6. The impact of heavy metals exposure on male fertility: a scoping review of human studies
  7. Glucagon in glucose homeostasis and metabolic disease: from physiology to therapeutics
  8. The efficacy of dietary supplements on health status and performance of football players: a systematic review
  9. Original Articles
  10. Factors affecting self-care in heart failure patients: a cross-sectional study
  11. Physiological regulation of moderate-intensity exercise in improving the biomarkers visfatin and myonectin as a modulator of increasing metabolic performance in obese
  12. A comparative study of heart rate variability (HRV) among adult hypertensive and normotensive subjects in the supine position
  13. Elevated seminal plasma leptin may correlate with varicocele presence and BMI
  14. Clinical significance of detectable blood lead and cadmium in the Sarno river basin population: results from the PREVES-STOP study
  15. Outcomes of systemic thrombolysis with reteplase in high-risk acute pulmonary embolism
  16. The pharmacokinetics and comparative bioavailabilty of oral and subcutaneous semaglutide in healthy volunteers
  17. Short Communications
  18. Approaching a phenomenal contradiction in acid–base physiology
  19. Current trends and innovations in oral and maxillofacial surgery
  20. Letter to the Editor
  21. The need for quality certification for urological apps
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