Impact of Paints Exposure and Smoking on oxidative stress and Human fertility

In parallel with industrial advancements, number of the
occupational diseases secondary to chemical exposure is
increasing. The chemical agents in the work places affect
various organ and tissue systems, leading to chronic
diseases. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the
effect of the smoking and the exposure to paints on
human fertility. In this study, a hundred and forty six
male painters diagnosed with occupational diseases
related to paints exposure in Damietta were included. In
addition, forty of the healthy non-exposed and nonsmoker
males with the same age range as that of the
painters were used as controls. The painters were
classified into non-smokers and smokers. The nonsmokers
were either exposed to paints for less than 15
years (GII) or for more than 15 years (GIII) and the
smoker painters were either exposed to less (GIV) or
more than 15 years (GV). In sera of all painters, groups
the mea levels of testosterone were lowered than that of
the control. On the other hand, the levels of estradiol
(E2) in sera of all painters, groups were elevated than
that of the control, especially in GIII and V. Also, the
mean activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD),
glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd) and catalase were
inhibited in sera of all painters than that of the control.
Furthermore, the mean levels of blood reduced
glutathione (GSH) in GII-V were lowered than that of
the control. The total antioxidant (TAO) was lowered in
GII-V than that of the control. On the other hand, the
mean levels of nitric oxide (NO) in sera of the same
groups were elevated than that of the control group. As
was expected, the mean levels of malondialdehyde
(MDA) in the red blood cells of GII-V were elevated
than that of the control group. In conclusion, the results
of this study illustrated that paints, exposure can
participate in male infertility possibly via hormonal and
free radical mediated mechanisms.