[Male fertility. Possibly affected by occupational exposure to mercury].

In the last decades there is circumstantial evidence for an increased incidence of cryptorchidisme and hypospadia in new-born boys and an increased incidence of testicular cancer in adults. Moreover, there are indications that sperm quality is declining. Exposure to endocrine disrupters in utero and during adulthood is a possible explanation for the impairment of male reproductive health. Exposure to mercury may lead to deposition in the pituitary gland and the testicular tissues causing impairment of testicular function, especially spermatogenesis. Evidence based research is needed.