Abstract
BackgroundThe effect of ambient pollutants on the male reproductive system is controversial. This retrospective study investigated the effect of environmental pollutants on male reproductive health.MethodsMale patients with primary infertility (n = 282) were identified from a single center between January 2016 and December 2017. Patients were physically examined for the presence of varicocele and for the volume of both testicles. Semen quality was measured in terms of the total sperm count, sperm concentration, and the percentage of sperm cells with motility and normal morphology. Data were acquired on the concentration of ambient pollutants, namely particulate matters of diameter < 2.5 μm, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ozone (O3), measured on daily and hourly basis, from the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan, Taiwan. Individual exposure to pollutants was estimated based on the reported residential address of each participant. Statistical analysis indicated the effect of each pollutant on the testicular volume, sex hormone profile, and semen parameters.ResultsThe mean ± standard deviation of age was 36.7 ± 7.3 years. The average sperm count and concentration were 41.9 million/mL and 34.1 million/mL, respectively. The mean levels of serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were 3.57 ± 1.68 ng/mL, 7.59 ± 6.3 IU/L, and 4.68 ± 3.49 IU/L, respectively. According to the multivariate linear regression model, NOx exposure was a risk factor for decreased sperm concentration and motility (p = 0.043 and 0.032). Furthermore, SO2 exposure was negatively associated and testicular volume (p < 0.01).ConclusionsNO2 and SO2 exposure were negatively associated with the seminal parameter and decreased testicular volume, respectively, in a population of men with infertility. However, additional prospective studies are needed to ascertain the cause–effect relation of current results.
Highlights
The effect of ambient pollutants on the male reproductive system is controversial
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure were negatively associated with the seminal parameter and decreased testicular volume, respectively, in a population of men with infertility
The mean values of the total sperm count, concentration, and normal morphology were higher in these participants than the cut-off values according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards [19]
Summary
The effect of ambient pollutants on the male reproductive system is controversial. Occupational exposure to heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, and mercury, disrupts male reproductive functions through altered sex hormone levels and decreased testicular volume. Ambient pollutants resulting from the increasing number of automobiles and factories include particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides. These ambient pollutants have been shown to impair human fertility and interfere with male reproductive functions [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
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