The effect of occupational lead toxicity on testosterone secretion and the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway

Lütfiye Tutkun, Servet Birgin İritaş, Murat Büyükşekerci, Vugar Ali Türksoy, Deniz Özkan Vardar, Özgür Öztan, Serdar Deniz, Zübeyir Dedeoğlu, Engin Tutkun, Department of Toxicology, The Association of Industrial Toxicology and Occupational Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Forensic Medicine Department, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ankara Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Yozgat Bozok University, Vocational School of Health Services, Pharmacy Services, Lokman Hekim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Malatya Turgut Özal University, Türkiye Environment Agency, Vice President

Toxicology and Industrial Health

Published online on April 10, 2026

Abstract

Toxicology and Industrial Health, Volume 42, Issue 6-7, Page 223-232, June-July 2026.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including heavy metals such as lead (Pb), interfere with hormonal homeostasis, particularly in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Occupational lead exposure is linked to male reproductive dysfunction and ...