PIP: This review focuses of industrial chemicals that research has indicated may adversely affect human male reproductive capacity. The study of male reproductive toxicity is impeded by a dearth of clinical endpoints. Males lack an obvious and easily measurable reproductive cycle, and the primary clinical indicator, semen analysis, offers unsure clues to reproductive performance. However, progress is being made in developing and evaluating tests to identify chemical hazards and estimate human health risks. Agents with confirmed adverse effects of male reproduction include carbon disulfide, dibromocklopropane, lead, and oral contraceptives. Agents with inconclusive effects include anesthetic gases, arsenic, benzene, boron, cadmium, carbaryl, chlordecone, chloroprene, DNT and TDA, ethylene dibromide, manganese, mercury, pesticides, PCP, radiation ionizing and nonionizing, solvents, dioxin, and vinyl chloride. Finally, agents with no observed adverse effects include epichlorohydrin, glycerine, benzoic acid, and polybrominated biphenyls. The literature suggests a need for further research in the following areas: 1) chemicals that are reactive and capable of covalent interactions in biological systems, 2) chemicals defined as mutagens and/or carcinogens in short-term laboratory tests, 3) chemicals demonstrated to cause aneuploidy or other chromosomal aberrations, 4) chemicals that affect sperm motility in vitro, 5) chemicals that share hormonal activity or affect hormone action, and 6) chemicals that act directly or indirectly to affect the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis.
