Abstract
Air pollution can influence women’s reproductive health, specifically menstrual cycle characteristics, oocyte quality, and risk of miscarriage. The aim of the study was to assess whether air pollution can affect the length of the overall menstrual cycle and the length of its phases (follicular and luteal). Municipal ecological monitoring data was used to assess the air pollution exposure during the monitored menstrual cycle of each of 133 woman of reproductive age. Principal component analyses were used to group pollutants (PM10, SO2, CO, and NOx) to represent a source-related mixture. PM10 and SO2 assessed separately negatively affected the length of the luteal phase after standardization (b = −0.02; p = 0.03; b = −0.06; p = 0.02, respectively). Representing a fossil fuel combustion emission, they were also associated with luteal phase shortening (b = −0.32; p = 0.02). These pollutants did not affect the follicular phase length and overall cycle length, neither in single- nor in multi-pollutant models. CO and NOx assessed either separately or together as a traffic emission were not associated with overall cycle length or the length of cycle phases. Luteal phase shortening, a possible manifestation of luteal phase deficiency, can result from fossil fuel combustion. This suggests that air pollution may contribute to fertility problems in women.
Highlights
IntroductionThe harmful effects of ambient air pollution on many aspects of human health, including the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system is well established [1]
Ambient air pollution is one of the greatest environmental pressures affecting human wellbeing.The harmful effects of ambient air pollution on many aspects of human health, including the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system is well established [1]
We showed that exposure of pregnant women to particulate matter less than 10 μm in size is associated with lower birth weight, and the association is strongest when exposure takes place during the first trimester of pregnancy [6]
Summary
The harmful effects of ambient air pollution on many aspects of human health, including the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system is well established [1]. We showed that exposure of pregnant women to particulate matter less than 10 μm in size is associated with lower birth weight, and the association is strongest when exposure takes place during the first trimester of pregnancy [6]. These results are in accordance with findings which show the association between the
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