Heavy metal and metalloid - induced reproductive toxicity.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
lead | decrease | several reproductive parameters | human beings | moderate to minute quantities | may affect | #1 |
lead | decrease | semen quality | human beings | - | affect | #2 |
various heavy metals and metalloids | decrease | the reproductive system | human beings | - | have disastrous effects | #3 |
various heavy metals and metalloids | increase | infertility | human beings | - | ensuing in | #4 |
zinc | decrease | heavy metal-induced reproductive toxicity | - | - | protective mechanisms | #5 |
melatonin | decrease | heavy metal-induced reproductive toxicity | - | - | protective mechanisms | #6 |
chelation therapy | decrease | heavy metal-induced reproductive toxicity | - | - | protective mechanisms | #7 |
Heavy metals and metalloid exposure are among the most common factors responsible for reproductive toxicity in human beings. Several studies have indicated that numerous metals and metalloids can display severe adverse properties on the human reproductive system. Metals like lead, silver, cadmium, uranium, vanadium, and mercury and metalloids like arsenic have been known to induce reproductive toxicity. Moderate to minute quantities of lead may affect several reproductive parameters and even affect semen quality. The ecological and industrial exposures to the various heavy metals and metalloids have disastrous effects on the reproductive system ensuing in infertility. This work emphasizes the mechanism and pathophysiology of the aforementioned heavy metals and metalloids in reproductive toxicity. Additionally, this work aims to cover the classical protective mechanisms of zinc, melatonin, chelation therapy, and other trending methods to prevent heavy metal-induced reproductive toxicity.