Abstract
Objectives
Welders are exposed to intense heat, toxic metals and their oxides and toxic gases during welding, and some of these substances reported to have adverse effects on reproductive organs. Thus, the present study was planned to investigate the sperm quality as well as reproductive hormones among welders exposed to a complex mixture of pollutants.
Methods
Seventeen welders aged 43.8±12.0 (mean±SD) years with welding exposure of 1 to 10 years or more participated in this study. They were performing are and gas welding in a workshop. Blood (5–6 ml) and semen samples by masturbation were collected from them. Serum was separated and analyzed for reproductive hormones by RIA techniques. Semen was processed for microscopic examination.
Results
The results of this study indicated that sperm concentration was in the normal range (≥20 million/ml) in all seventeen welders, however, motility, morphology as well as Hypo Osmotic Swelling test (HOS) demonstrated impairment in few welders, indicating deterioration in sperm quality compared to the reported normal reference value. Compared with the normal value of hormones provided in diagnostic kits brochure, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels were in the normal range, except in two subjects who showed higher FSH and LH levels and one who showed a lower value of testosterone.
Conclusions
This study suggests that welding might have had some adverse effects on sperm motility, morphology and physiologic function even though sperm concentration was in the normal range. Hormonal changes did not show any definite pattern, indicating a need for further study.
Key words: welders, sperm concentration, HOS test, reproductive dysfunction, sperm motility, morphology hormones
References
- (1).Deolate PG, Kulkarni SR. Survey of welders in Mangalore. Indian J. Occup. Hlth. 1977;20: 229–236.
- (2).Pandya CB, Ph.D. Thesis, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India, 1978.
- (3).Zaidi SSA, Kumar S, Gandhi SJ, et al. Preliminary studies on thyroid function in welders. J. Occupational Health 2001; 43: 90–91. [DOI]
- (4).Guldotti TL, Lappi VG, Langard S. Hazards of welding Technologies. In Environment and Occupational Medicine, Rom N W (ed.) 2nd Edition, Little Brown & Company, London 1992; 831–840.
- (5).Rachootin P, Olsen J. The risk of infertility and delayed conception associated with exposure in the Danish work place. J. Occup. Med. 1993; 25: 394–402. [PubMed]
- (6).Bonde JP, Hansen KS, Levine RL. Fertility among Danish male welder. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 1990; 16: 315–322. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (7).Mortensen JT. Risk for reduced sperm quality among metal workers with special reference to welders. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 1988; 14: 27–30. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (8).Jelnes JE, Knudsen L. Stainless steel welding and semen quality. Reproductive Toxicol 1988; 2: 209–212. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (9).Kandracova E. Fertility disorders in welders. Geskoslovenska Dermatologika 1981; 56: 342–345. [PubMed]
- (10).Hjollund NH, Bonde JP, Jensen TK, et al. A follow-up study of male exposure to welding and time pregnancy. Reproductive Toxicol. 1998; 12: 29–37. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (11).AISDER. Toxicological profile for cadmium. Atlanta, GA, Agency for Toxic Disease Registry (1991). [PubMed]
- (12).RoyChowdhury A, Chinoy NJ, Gautam AK et al. Effect of lead on human semen. Adv. Contra Deliv. Syst. 1986; 2: 208–210. [PubMed]
- (13).Spira A. Epidemiologic aspects of the relationship between temperature and reproduction. In Temperature and environmental effects on the testis. Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology, Zorgniotti S. W. (ed.) (Vol. 286). New York, Plenum Press, 1991: 49–56. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (14).De Vita A, Calugi A, Chiarantano C, et al. Effects of heat on mouse spermatogenesis monitored by Flow Cytometry. Int. J. Hyperthermia 1991; 6: 543–551. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (15).Procope BJ. Effect of repeated increase of body temperature on human sperm cells. Int. J. Fertil 1965; 10: 333–339. [PubMed]
- (16).Brown-Woodman P, Post E, Gass G, et al. The effects of single sauna exposure on spermatozoa.. Arch. Androl. 1984; 12: 9–15. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (17).Bonde JP. Semen quality in welders exposed to radiant heat. British J. Ind. Med. 1992; 49: 5–10. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- (18).Jayendran RS, Vander van HH, Perez-Pelaez M, et al. Development of an assay to assess the functional integrity of the human sperm membrane and its relationship to the other semen characteristics. J. Reproduction & Fertility 1984; 70: 219–228. [DOI] [PubMed]
- (19).WHO, Laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and serum—cervical mucus interaction. Cambridge University Press, 4th edition, 1992.
- (20).Kumar S, et al. Reproductive dysfunction among the workers exposed to chromium in a chemical industry and workers exposed in pharmaceutical industry (unpublished).
- (21).Bonde JP. Semen quality and sex hormones among mild steel and stainless steel welders; a cross sectional study. British J. Industrial Med. 1990; 47: 508–514. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- (22).Selevan SG, Borkevec L, Slott VL, et al. Semen quality and reproductive health of Czech men exposed to seasonal air pollution. Environ Health Pers. 2000; 108: 887–894. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]