In recent decades, there has been a tendency in the world to decrease the qualitative and quantitative indicators of spermatogenesis, which can lead to a decrease in male fertility up to infertility, and become one of the main reasons for a decrease in the birth rate in the population.

The purpose of the study is to systematize scientific literature data on the influence of chemical production factors on the reproductive health of male workers. The researchers applied the method of analytical review of publications in scientific electronic libraries (Elibrary, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus) on the effect of chemicals on the reproductive health of working men. The data of epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies are presented, indicating the vulnerability of the reproductive health of working men to the effects of chemicals both in production and in the environment.

During industrial exposure of male workers to a number of organic solvents, the authors revealed reproductive health disorders: changes in sperm motility and morphology, a decrease in qualitative and quantitative parameters of spermatozoa — under the action of glycol esters, acetone; an increase in the period before conception and pregnancy determination in the wives of workers who had contact with trichloro- and tetrachloroethylene; an increase in cell death (apoptosis) and disruption of the life cycle of spermatozoa — when exposed to benzene. During professional exposure to phthalates, scientists have identified a relationship between the level of the substance in the biological environment of the body of workers and a decrease in sperm quality, as well as a change in the ratio of testosterone and estradiol. The mechanism of sperm quality change is based on the action of free radicals, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction. There is a large number of works devoted to the professional effects of lead on the reproductive system of workers, and there is also some data on the effect of other metals — cadmium, mercury, boron, manganese, hexavalent chromium, aluminum on male reproduction. Experimental animal studies confirm the toxic effect of these metals on male gonads.

The main mechanisms of reproductive toxicity of pesticides in men are due to the fact that many pesticides are endocrine disruptors (destroyers), which, acting in the antenatal period or on the adult body, affect the processes of synthesis, secretion, metabolism, binding to hormone receptors that regulate, among other things, reproductive processes.

Researchers have statistically significant data that the presence of major pollutants in the ambient air can affect sperm parameters, their morphology, DNA fragmentation, as well as the level of sex hormones.

The protection of the reproductive health of male workers in the workplace is an urgent problem. It is necessary to further accumulate data and create comprehensive programs to study the reproductive health of male workers in order to develop preventive measures.