Available online at www.medicinescience.org ORIGINAL RESEARCH Medicine Science 2019;8(2):306-10 The evaluation of the efects of occupational arsenic exposure on man reproductive hormones Meside Gunduzoz 1 , Lutfye Tutkun 2 , Servet Birgin Iritas 3 , Aybike Dip 4 , Serdar Deniz 5 1 Occupational Diseases Hospital, Department of Family Medicine, Ankara, Turkey 2 Bozok University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Yozgat, Turkey 3 Ministry of Justice, The Council of Forensic Medicine, Ankara, Turkey 4 Ministry of Justice, The Council of Forensic Medicine, Adana, Turkey 5 Provincial Health Directorate, Malatya, Turkey Received 17 September 2018; Accepted 10 November 2018 Available online 10.01.2019 with doi:10.5455/medscience.2018.07.8957 Copyright © 2019 by authors and Medicine Science Publishing Inc. Abstract The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between arsenic levels and reproductive hormones of workers with occupational arsenic exposure. Forty arsenic ex- posed workers, who applied to Ankara Occupational Disease Hospital, Occupational Health Outpatient Clinic between 2013-2017 with no complaints about infertility and erectile dysfunction (ED), were included in this study. Arsenic exposed individuals in the study group were working in the recycling and pest control companies. A healthy group, who consists of 57 ofce workers with no heavy metal exposure at workplace, was selected as the control group. Workers who have chronic disease, prescripted or herbal medicines were not included in this study. Whole group was composed of 97 male subjects, with 40 arsenic exposed workers and 57 control subjects. In the study group, urine arsenic levels (UAL) was signifcantly higher than the control group (57.98±26, 70 μg/L and 12.84±6.82 μg/L respectively) (p=0.000). Serum follicle stimulated hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were found to be higher in the study group (FSH: 4.52±2.08/3.58±2.10, LH: 4.66±1.92/ 4.20±1.92). Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), and prolactin levels were signifcantly lower than in the control group (TT: 5.63±2.01/6.80±2.43, FT: 10.31±2.87/16,74±4,32, Prolactin: 12.61±7.03/15.55±6.93). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), uric acid (UA), creat- inine, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels were similar in both groups. In the complete blood count (CBC) parameters, the HGB and HTC values were found lower in the study group. This is a pilot study that shows the toxic efects of arsenic exposure on male reproductive hormones. Keywords: Testosterone, arsenic, occupational exposure, Prolactin, follicle stimulated hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) Medicine Science International Medical Journal 306 Introduction Arsenic (As) compounds are widely used in the production of paint, glass, ceramics, semiconductors and agrochemicals. It is a toxic metalloid which is a natural part of earth crust [1-3]. Most prevalent arsenic is inorganic types found mainly is waters. Organic form of it are found in natural gas and petroleum source. As changes its chemical forms and oxidation level easily by the efect of microbiologic activity, redox potential, water pH and the presence of ions [4]. Leading routes of As exposure are production of ceramics, mining process, herbicides and insecticides [5]. Arsenic enters the human body via ingestion or inhalation or absorption by skin. Ingested *Coresponding Author: Servet Birgin Iritas, Ministry of Justice, The Council of Forensic Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, E-mail: sbiritas@gmail.com arsenic is easily absorbed through gastrointestinal tract. Inhaled arsenic is also well absorbed by lungs and enters bloodstream. First target of arsenic compounds is erythrocyte in body after systemic absorption [6]. Chronic arsenic exposure leads to metabolic and structural changes in hepatocyte and mitochondria in the liver as well as apoptosis, oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation [7-9]. It has been proven that As is clinically relevant bladder, lung, liver and skin cancers and it is defned as Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC (The International Agency for Research on Cancer) [10]. Adverse efects of As on circulation, respiration, digestion, hematology, musculoskeletal system, neurological and reproductive system have been proven by many scientifc researches [7,11-13]. Efects of As exposure on reproductive system is mostly studied by animal models. Mehranjani and Hemadi [14] reported a statistically signifcant reduction in FSH and LH concentrations in rats treated with sodium arsenide at 8 mg kg BW-1 daily dose for eight weeks. Ali et al. found that FSH and LH levels increase and testosterone levels decrease in As exposed mices [15]. In another study with