Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
201,683 studies31 sourcesUpdated 3 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition

Heavy metals exposure and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

  • Saba Goodarzi1
  • Motahareh Hasani2
  • Shirin Djalalinia3
  • Razieh Lotfi4
  • Armita Mahdavi-Gorabi1
  • Mostafa Qorbani1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
  2. 2Department of Nutrition, School of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
  3. 3Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Read full textDOICite

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a major public health concern worldwide, with growing evidence implicating environmental exposures to heavy metals as potential contributors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between heavy metals in biological samples and infertility among men and women.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted. Observational studies reporting levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead in infertile versus fertile individuals were included until December 2025. Data screening, data extraction and quality assessment was performed by two researchers independently. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistic. Meta-analysis was performed using fixed/random-effects model to pool standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: A total of 22 studies were included in the systematic review. In the qualitative synthesis, although the association of infertility with different heavy metals was statistically significant in the most of included studies, the findings were heterogeneous among studies. In the quantitative synthesis, seminal levels of cadmium (pooled SMD = 1.84, 95% CI: 0.15, 3.53), blood lead levels (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.06, 1.32), and blood mercury concentrations (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.30) was significantly higher in infertile individuals compared with fertile counterparts. Other pooled associations between heavy metals and infertility were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The study findings support a significant association between heavy metals, particularly cadmium, lead and mercury with infertility. These findings underscore the importance of mitigating environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals to protect reproductive health.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-026-01397-5.

Related

  1. Tooth wear and socioeconomic status in childhood and adulthood: Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
    Sheema Entezami, Karen Glazer Peres, Huihua Li +3
    Journal of DentistryPeer-reviewedLicence not stated24 citedGeneral biologyEpidemiology & public healthHAL
  2. Dietary patterns and adult mental health: a systematic review of observational studies
    Elaine Valdna Oliveira dos Santos, Lucas de Almeida Moura, Camila Valdejane Silva de Souza +3
    BMC Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Epidemiology & public healthCrossref
  3. Impact of diabetes with and without neuropathy on plantar pressure, kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity during gait: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
    Isabel C. N. Sacco, Carla B. Rodrigues, Ronaldo H. Cruvinel-Júnior +1
    Systematic ReviewsPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Clinical trials & evidence synthesisCrossref
  4. Mediterranean diet and risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
    Tom Thabo Jahnke, Christian Holschuh, Peter Schlattmann
    BMC NutritionPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textEpidemiology & public healthPMC
  5. Association Between Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Melanoma Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies
    Túlio Pimentel, Maria Clara Florêncio, Mariano Gallo Ruelas +4
    Obesity SurgeryPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textSurgery & anaesthesiaPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{goodarzi2026heavy,
  title = {{Heavy metals exposure and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies}},
  author = {Saba Goodarzi and Motahareh Hasani and Shirin Djalalinia and Razieh Lotfi and Armita Mahdavi-Gorabi and Mostafa Qorbani},
  journal = {Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1186/s41043-026-01397-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-026-01397-5},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Heavy metals exposure and infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
AU  - Saba Goodarzi
AU  - Motahareh Hasani
AU  - Shirin Djalalinia
AU  - Razieh Lotfi
AU  - Armita Mahdavi-Gorabi
AU  - Mostafa Qorbani
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/23
JO  - Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition
DO  - 10.1186/s41043-026-01397-5
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-026-01397-5
AB  - Background: Infertility is a major public health concern worldwide, with growing evidence implicating environmental exposures to heavy metals as potential contributors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between heavy metals in biological samples and infertility among men and women.  Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted. Observational studies reporting levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead in infertile versus fertile individuals were included until December 2025. Data screening, data extraction and quality assessment was performed by two researchers independently. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistic. Meta-analysis was performed using fixed/random-effects model to pool standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).  Results: A total of 22 studies were included in the systematic review. In the qualitative synthesis, although the association of infertility with different heavy metals was statistically significant in the most of included studies, the findings were heterogeneous among studies. In the quantitative synthesis, seminal levels of cadmium (pooled SMD = 1.84, 95% CI: 0.15, 3.53), blood lead levels (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.06, 1.32), and blood mercury concentrations (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.30) was significantly higher in infertile individuals compared with fertile counterparts. Other pooled associations between heavy metals and infertility were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).  Conclusion: The study findings support a significant association between heavy metals, particularly cadmium, lead and mercury with infertility. These findings underscore the importance of mitigating environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals to protect reproductive health.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-026-01397-5.
SN  - 1606-0997
SN  - 2072-1315
ER  -