BACKGROUND: This study examined potential associations between exposure to episodes of air pollution and alterations in semen quality. The air pollution, resulting from combustion of coal for industry and home heating in the Teplice district of the Czech Republic, was much higher during the winter than at other times of year with peaks exceeding US air quality standards. METHODS: Young men from Teplice were sampled up to seven times over 2 years allowing evaluation of semen quality after periods of exposure to both low and high air pollution. Routine semen analysis (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) and tests for sperm aneuploidy and chromatin integrity were performed, comparing measurements within each subject. Exposure was classified as high or low based on data from ambient air pollution monitoring. RESULTS: Using repeated measures analysis, a significant association was found between exposure to periods of high air pollution (at or above the upper limit of US air quality standards) and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation according to sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Other semen measures were not associated with air pollution. CONCLUSION: Exposure to intermittent air pollution may result in sperm DNA damage and thereby increase the rates of male-mediated infertility, miscarriage, and other adverse reproductive outcomes.
BACKGROUND: This study examined potential associations between exposure to episodes of air pollution and alterations in semen quality. The air pollution, resulting from combustion of coal for industry and home heating in the Teplice district of the Czech Republic, was much higher during the winter than at other times of year with peaks exceeding US air quality standards. METHODS: Young men from Teplice were sampled up to seven times over 2 years allowing evaluation of semen quality after periods of exposure to both low and high air pollution. Routine semen analysis (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) and tests for sperm aneuploidy and chromatin integrity were performed, comparing measurements within each subject. Exposure was classified as high or low based on data from ambient air pollution monitoring. RESULTS: Using repeated measures analysis, a significant association was found between exposure to periods of high air pollution (at or above the upper limit of US air quality standards) and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation according to sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Other semen measures were not associated with air pollution. CONCLUSION: Exposure to intermittent air pollution may result in sperm DNA damage and thereby increase the rates of male-mediated infertility, miscarriage, and other adverse reproductive outcomes.
Authors: Feiby L Nassan; Jorge E Chavarro; Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón; Paige L Williams; Cigdem Tanrikut; Jennifer B Ford; Ramace Dadd; Melissa J Perry; Russ Hauser; Audrey J Gaskins Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health Date: 2018-05-22 Impact factor: 5.840
Authors: Joanna E Gawecka; Segal Boaz; Kay Kasperson; Hieu Nguyen; Donald P Evenson; W Steven Ward Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 2015-10-13 Impact factor: 6.918
Authors: Julia Moltó; Raiza Paul; Nuria Ortuño; María Llanos Medrano; Jon Aizpurua; María José Gómez-Torres Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2015-10-21 Impact factor: 4.223
Authors: Craig Hansen; Thomas J Luben; Jason D Sacks; Andrew Olshan; Susan Jeffay; Lillian Strader; Sally D Perreault Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2010-02 Impact factor: 9.031