Occupational Lead Exposure and Male Infertility

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of lead exposure on pregnancy delay, seminal quality and reproductive hormone patterns in traffic police officers residing in Arequipa and compare them to a control group residing in the same city. This includes the application of a questionnaire, a physical evaluation, seminal analysis, hormonal analysis and determination of blood lead levels in each of the participants. The multivariate analysis shows that lead is associated with delayed pregnancy and miscarriage. In conclusion, the high levels of lead found in the traffic police of the city of Arequipa affect fertility due to factors other than the number, mobility and morphology of sperm and the levels of reproductive hormones.