Impact of Air Pollution on Male Reproductive Health

Air pollution comprises a complex mix of particulate and gaseous agents, including fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen oxides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, that penetrate the respiratory system and exert systemic effects. In men, chronic exposure disrupts spermatogenesis and impairs semen quality through oxidative stress, endocrine perturbation and direct genotoxicity. Elevated reactive oxygen species overwhelm antioxidant defences, leading to lipid peroxidation of sperm membranes and DNA strand breaks. Airborne toxins can also act as endocrine disruptors, altering testosterone synthesis and disturbing the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Epidemiological studies have documented declines in sperm concentration, motility and normal morphology among populations residing in heavily polluted regions, with evidence of seasonal variation correlating with peaks in ambient pollutants. Animal experiments corroborate these findings, demonstrating compromised testicular histology and reduced fertility indices. The global burden of subfertility linked to air pollution underscores the need for regulatory measures and targeted interventions to safeguard male reproductive health.

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Impact of Air Pollution on Male Reproductive Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in impact of air pollution on male reproductive health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10): Fine inhalable particles with aerodynamic diameters of ≤2.5 µm or ≤10 µm that can induce inflammation and oxidative injury.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage lipids, proteins and DNA.

Oxidative stress: A state in which generation of ROS exceeds cellular antioxidant capacity, resulting in biomolecular damage.

DNA fragmentation index: Quantitative measure of sperm DNA strand breaks, indicative of compromised genomic integrity.

Sperm motility: The ability of spermatozoa to move actively and progressively, essential for successful fertilisation.

References

1. Implications of Exposure to Air Pollution on Male Reproduction: The Role of Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (2024).
2. Semen quality and reproductive health of young Czech men exposed to seasonal air pollution.. Environmental Health Perspectives (2000).
3. Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution on Human Semen Quality: A Meta‐Analysis and Systematic Review. BioMed Research International (2020).
4. Association between ambient particulate matter exposure and semen quality in fertile men. Environmental Health (2022).
5. Concentrated ambient PM2.5 exposure affects mice sperm quality and testosterone biosynthesis. PeerJ (2019).