Zhu Zhipeng, Ni Xiaoqing, Zhu Yong, Zhang Zhou, Liang Peiyu, Liang Zuowen, Shen Qunshan, Fu Feifei, Tan Qing, Mao Xiaohong, Ge Lei, Li Hang, Chai Dongyue, Sun Can, Tao Zhiwen, Jiang Feng, Yang Jigao, Liu Jianfeng, Fang Zhixiang, Cao Yunxia, Gong Guihua, Wang Xiaojun, Huang Yichao, Li Yushan, Zhang Xinzong, He Xiaojin
Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Sep 15;303:118926. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118926. Epub 2025 Aug 25.
Assessing the adverse effects of geographical heavy metal mixture exposure on human semen quality is challenging. Our study aims to quantify the impact of these heavy metals on semen quality under both individual and combined exposures.
We recruited 32,072 reproductive-age men from ten human sperm banks across 31 provinces in China during the period from 2019 to 2022. Geographical heavy metal exposure was quantitatively assessed using the inverse distance weighting algorithm. The Power of Determinant (PD) values were calculated using the Geodetector (GD) to assess the individual and interactive effects of six soil heavy metals on semen quality parameters, including semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and total sperm count. Exposure-response analyses were performed using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM).
The final analysis included 30,916 reproductive-age men. The factor detector identified mercury (Hg) as the primary factor among six geographical heavy metals contributing to decreased semen count [PD values: sperm concentration = 0.095, total sperm count = 0.112]. This was followed by arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu). Interaction detector analysis revealed that mixed exposure to heavy metals enhanced their negative effects on semen quality, especially the combined exposure to Hg and As (with the highest PD values). GLMM models indicated a significant positive association between geographical Hg exposure and the risk of suboptimal total sperm count (P < 0.05). In the medium (T2) and high (T3) exposure groups, the odds ratios (95 % Confidence Interval [CI]) for sperm concentration were 1.43 (1.24, 1.64) and 1.22 (1.05, 1.42), respectively. Similar results were observed for As, Cd, and Cu.
Our study provides new evidence from the perspective of GD, indicating that geographic mercury exposure is the primary driving factor behind the decline in semen quality. Additionally, mixed exposure exacerbates the adverse effects of heavy metals on semen quality.
评估地理环境中重金属混合物暴露对人类精液质量的不良影响具有挑战性。我们的研究旨在量化这些重金属在个体暴露和联合暴露情况下对精液质量的影响。
2019年至2022年期间，我们从中国31个省份的10家人类精子库招募了32,072名育龄男性。使用反距离加权算法对地理重金属暴露进行定量评估。利用地理探测器（GD）计算决定力（PD）值，以评估六种土壤重金属对精液质量参数的个体效应和交互效应，这些参数包括精液量、精子浓度、精子活力和总精子数。使用广义线性混合模型（GLMM）进行暴露-反应分析。
最终分析纳入了30,916名育龄男性。因子探测器确定汞（Hg）是六种地理重金属中导致精液计数下降的主要因素[PD值：精子浓度=0.095，总精子数=0.112]。其次是砷（As）、镉（Cd）和铜（Cu）。交互探测器分析显示，重金属混合暴露增强了它们对精液质量的负面影响，尤其是汞和砷的联合暴露（PD值最高）。GLMM模型表明，地理汞暴露与总精子数不理想的风险之间存在显著正相关（P<0.05）。在中（T2）和高（T3）暴露组中，精子浓度的比值比（95%置信区间[CI]）分别为1.43（1.24,1.64）和1.22（1.05,1.42）。砷、镉和铜也观察到类似结果。
我们的研究从地理探测器的角度提供了新证据，表明地理汞暴露是精液质量下降的主要驱动因素。此外，混合暴露加剧了重金属对精液质量的不良影响。
