Mercury in urine and ejaculate in husbands of barren couples

Abstract

Mercury concentrations in morning urine and ejaculate were detected in 80 husbands of women presenting for infertility treatment. Additionally, the number of their dental amalgam fillings was documented. A routine spermiogram was performed, from which a numerical “fertility index” was calculated. Urinary mercury concentrations were in the range of non-exposed populations, only minute Hg concentrations were determined in ejaculate, 75% of the semen sample concentrations were under the detection limit of 5 μg/l. In comparison, 7 proven fertile workers with occupational mercury exposure had elevated levels of mercury in their ejaculates (range 10–65 μg/l). No positive correlation could be established between subject mercury concentrations in urine or ejaculate and the quality of their semen, expressed as fertility index. Equally, no such correlation could be established between the fertility index and the number of their dental amalgam fillings. From these preliminary data no evidence can be derived for the alleged relation between the mercury burden from dental amalgam fillings and male fertility disorders.