Air Pollution and Quality of Sperm: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Context:Air pollution is common in all countries and affects reproductive functions in men and women. It particularly impacts sperm parameters in men. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of air pollution on the quality of sperm.Evidence Acquisition:The scientific databases of Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, Cochrane Library, and Elsevier were searched to identify relevant articles published between 1978 to 2013. In the first step, 76 articles were selected. These studies were ecological correlation, cohort, retrospective, cross-sectional, and case control ones that were found through electronic and hand search of references about air pollution and male infertility. The outcome measurement was the change in sperm parameters. A total of 11 articles were ultimately included in a meta-analysis to examine the impact of air pollution on sperm parameters. The authors applied meta-analysis sheets from Cochrane library, then data extraction, including mean and standard deviation of sperm parameters were calculated and finally their confidence interval (CI) were compared to CI of standard parameters.Results:The CI for pooled means were as follows: 2.68 ± 0.32 for ejaculation volume (mL), 62.1 ± 15.88 for sperm concentration (million per milliliter), 39.4 ± 5.52 for sperm motility (%), 23.91 ± 13.43 for sperm morphology (%) and 49.53 ± 11.08 for sperm count.Conclusions:The results of this meta-analysis showed that air pollution reduces sperm motility, but has no impact on the other sperm parameters of spermogram.

Hydrogen Sulfide and/or Ammonia Reduces Spermatozoa Motility through AMPK/AKT Related Pathways

“…This suggests that the toxicity of NH 4 CL and/or Na 2 S treatments (used in current investigation) might be not very high just that spermatozoa motility was declined while the spermatozoa survival was not impaired. This phenomenon was also found by the epidemiology studies12345.…”

“…Numerous emerging studies suggest that air pollutants may cause a decline in the motility of human spermatozoa12345. NH 3 and H 2 S are air pollutants that can be free or bound to air PM891617.…”

“…A number of recent publications have reported a decline in spermatozoa motility12345. Other parameters of human spermatozoa quality have also decreased during the past few decades36.…”

“…Other parameters of human spermatozoa quality have also decreased during the past few decades36. Along with diminishing spermatozoa quality, the incidence of infertility has increased from 7–8% in 1960 to a current level of 20–35%37; however, the decline in spermatozoa quality is not fully understood.…”

“…Along with diminishing spermatozoa quality, the incidence of infertility has increased from 7–8% in 1960 to a current level of 20–35%37; however, the decline in spermatozoa quality is not fully understood. Environmental pollutants including gases and particulate matter (PM) from a variety of sources8, which emanate from vehicles, industry, power stations, livestock production systems, and natural processes910 have been considered as a reason for decreasing spermatozoa quality3561112. These pollutants damage ecological systems and adversely affect public health121314.…”