Effects of lifestyle and toxicants

Abstract

A vast number of toxic chemicals encountered at the work place, in the environment or related to lifestyle have the potential to impair male reproductive health. The list of known male reproductive toxicants includes ionizing radiation, radiant heat exposure, inorganic lead and certain pesticides and organic solvents, but the number of chemicals that, according to experimental studies, have potential effects is much higher. Information on potential hazardous occupational and other toxic factors should be an important part of history taking among patients attending infertility clinics. The options for the disentanglement of occupational exposure in particular include: History taking about current occupational exposures Measurement of exposure levels in ambient air and tissues Observation of improvement in semen quality following temporary elimination of potential hazardous exposures - for instance by temporary referral to other work tasks. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.