Analytical Determination of Heavy Metals in Human Seminal Plasma-A Systematic Review

Infertility is a growing concerning health problem affecting around 15% of couples worldwide. Conventional semen parameters have limited accuracy for male infertility potential determination. Current advances in the understanding of male infertility indicate that environmental and occupational exposure to chemical contaminants are important etiological factors leading to infertility problems. In this context, some heavy metals (HMs) can be considered as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), thus altering the seminal quality. This systematic review aims to summarize the key points to detect and quantify HMs in human seminal plasma (SP) and the involved analytical tools. Our results showed that that for HM quantification, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) were the most employed techniques while Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr were the analytes most often detected. Fast, reliable, and sensitive quantification of EDCs in SP could be important for the development of accurate diagnostic and preventive strategies to address male infertility towards providing personalized therapy.

Automated summary

Infertility is a growing concern affecting 15% of couples worldwide. Chemical contaminants, specifically heavy metals, have been identified as important factors leading to infertility problems. This review highlights the detection and quantification of heavy metals in human seminal plasma using techniques like atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma. Accurate quantification of endocrine-disrupting compounds in seminal plasma can aid in the development of personalized therapy for male infertility.