September 6th 2024.
A recent study conducted by Danish scientists has revealed a concerning link between air pollution and male infertility. According to the research, breathing in air pollution can increase the risk of male infertility by almost 25%. The study, published in The BMJ, focused on the effects of long-term exposure to pollution that comes from various sources such as road traffic, building materials, and other small particles that linger in the air, known as PM2.5.
The team of scientists also discovered that road traffic noise pollution can also have an impact on fertility in women over the age of 35. To conduct this study, the researchers looked at over 500,000 men and nearly 400,000 women between the ages of 30 and 45 who were living in Denmark with a partner between 2000 and 2017. They specifically chose participants who had fewer than two children and were actively trying to conceive. Individuals who had a previous infertility diagnosis, had undergone surgery to prevent pregnancy, or had been sterilized were excluded from the study.
To measure the effects of pollution, the researchers calculated the yearly average PM2.5 concentration and road traffic noise level at the address of each participant between 1995 and 2017. They then compared this data with the success of conception. Their findings showed that exposure to PM2.5 levels of 2.9 µg/m3 or higher over a five-year period was associated with a 24% increased risk of infertility in men. Interestingly, while PM2.5 can come from road traffic, it was not found to be linked to infertility in women.
Furthermore, the study revealed that exposure to higher levels of road traffic noise over a five-year period was associated with a 14% increased risk of infertility in women over the age of 35, but not in younger women. The researchers also noted a small increase in infertility among older men (aged 37 to 45) who were exposed to noise pollution. In their report, the researchers stated that stress and sleep disturbance, both of which can be caused by noise pollution, have been linked to impaired reproductive function, including reduced sperm count and quality in men and menstrual irregularity in women.
It is worth mentioning that the study was conducted on participants living in both rural and urban areas and was not influenced by their financial status. However, the researchers noted that this study was observational and therefore, cannot directly prove that pollution causes infertility. Additionally, the study did not measure the effects of pollution on individuals who are exposed to fumes and noise pollution at work or during outdoor activities like running.
Despite these limitations, the researchers believe that their findings can help in creating strategies and policies to protect the population from noise and air pollution. PM2.5 particles, which are smaller than 2.5 micrometres, can cause health problems as they can enter and accumulate in the lungs. These particles can originate from various sources such as road traffic, building materials, and industries, as well as natural sources like wind-blown dust, sea salt, and pollens.
Professor Jill Belch, an expert in vascular medicine and air pollution from the University of Dundee, who was not involved in the study, stressed the importance of achieving legal limits of air pollution by governments and local authorities. She believes that the findings of this study have striking implications for fertility as a 24% decrease in male fertility and a 14% decrease in female fertility can have profound effects on future generations.
Other experts also weighed in on the study, noting its limitations but also recognizing its significance. Professor Allan Pacey, an expert in andrology at the University of Manchester, who was not involved in the study, pointed out that there could be other factors that contribute to the association between air pollution and infertility, such as lifestyle factors like alcohol use, smoking, and body mass index. However, he believes that this study serves as a good basis for future investigations in other countries that can link their databases in a similar manner.
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