Work

Risk Assessment of Impairment of Fertility Due to Exposure to Tobacco Constituents Classified as Reprotoxicants

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies demonstrate that exposure to tobacco causes infertility. A reference cigarette contains up to 47 chemicals above the quantification level, of which acrylamide, benzopyrene, cadmium, ethylene oxide and lead are classified as known (category 1A), presumed (category 1B) or suspected (category 2) human reproductive toxicants due to their effects on fertility and sexual function. METHODS: We collected toxicological information on these substances to establish their respective systemic-derived no-effect levels (internal doses predicted not to alter fertility). We also estimated the systemic exposure to these four substances by smokers consuming 20 cigarettes per day. RESULTS: The risks (ratios between exposure and safe dose) were 0.23, 0.06, 0.18, 0.01 and 0.00002 for acrylamide, benzopyrene, cadmium, ethylene oxide and lead, respectively. The combined risk was 0.48. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the changes in fertility resulting from the consumption of the substances in tobacco classified as toxic to fertility could not be explained by mechanisms with a toxicity threshold attributable to these five substances. No safe dose could be derived for tobacco use in persons seeking pregnancy; this applied to both active and passive smokers.

Source: Toxics

DOI: 10.3390/toxics13040234

Authors: Carmen Estevan, Gabriela A. Báez-Barroso, Eugenio Vilanova, Miguel A. Sogorb

Institution: Universitat de Miguel Hernández d'Elx

Language: English

Topic: Smoking Behavior and Cessation

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137