REPRODUCTIVE HAZARDS OF LEAD-EXPOSURE AMONG URBAN EGYPTIAN MEN

Fifty-five urban Egyptian males, aged 20-40, were assigned to two main groups to study the effects of their exposure to lead (Pb). Group I, infertile men (INF, n = 30), was divided into environmentally exposed (INF-E, n = 15) and environmentally and occupationally exposed (LNF-EO , n = 15). A matching group (Ii) of fertile men (F, n = 25) was divide d into fertile, environmentally exposed (F-E, n = 10), which was the c ontrol group, and fertile, environmentally and occupationally exposed (F-EO, 12 = 15). Semen parameters (i.e., count, morphology, motility, and volume), blood and semen Pb levels, and reproductive hormonal indi ces (i.e., serum testosterone, FSH, and LH) were measured in all subje cts. Lead levels were always higher in blood than semen. Semen lead le vels were significantly higher in all groups vs. the control (F-E) gro up. While no changes were observed in testosterone levels across group s, variable effects on LH and FSH levels were observed. Infertile-EO s ubjects showed a definite pattern of impaired semen parameters in comp arison with infertile-E. No abnormalities were detected in hematologic , hepatic or renal function.