Abstract
Lead and cadmium are known to be potential female reproductive toxins. However, studies on the relationship between these metals and infertility are limited. This study examines the association between self-reported infertility and blood lead and cadmium levels in US women by comparing metal levels in infertile and pregnant women. Data on blood lead, blood cadmium, and infertility from women aged 20–39 years who participated in the 2013–2014 and 2015–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed (n = 124, ‘pregnant’ n = 42, ‘infertile’ n = 82). Blood lead and cadmium levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and infertility and pregnancy status were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Low blood lead and cadmium levels (geometric mean of blood lead = 0.50 µg/dL and blood cadmium = 0.26 µg/L) were positively associated with self-reported infertility after adjusting for confounding effects (odds ratio (OR) for lead per two-fold increase in blood metal levels = 2.60; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.05–6.41 and OR for cadmium per two-fold increase = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.07–3.15). Although our findings require confirmation, they suggest that even low blood cadmium and lead levels may be deleterious to female fecundity.
Highlights
Infertility, which is commonly defined as no pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse, affects millions of couples worldwide [1,2]
Ethnicity, annual family education, marital alcohol consumption, physical for activity, body mass index (BMI), we found that aincome, two-fold increase in bloodstatus, lead and smokingconcentrations history, alcoholwere consumption, physical activity, and BMI, we with foundan that a two-fold increase cadmium significantly associated with infertility, adjusted
US women sampled from the 2013–2014 and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 2015–2016 blood lead and cadmium levels were positively associated with self-reported infertility
Summary
Infertility, which is commonly defined as no pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse, affects millions of couples worldwide [1,2]. In the US, approximately 7.4% [2] to 15.5% [3] of couples are affected by infertility. An important risk factor for infertility is exposure to environmental pollutants such as chemicals, air pollution, and heavy metals [7,8]. Exposure to lead has been associated with menstrual cycle disturbances, low gestational weight, premature birth, and miscarriages [10]. Other studies have reported that there is no association between lead exposure and female fecundity [19,20,21]
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