The WHO Special Plan for Human Reproduction Office has estimated that the global infertility rate is at least 15%, which means that approximately 60–80 million couples are infertile worldwide. Male reproductive health is receiving increasing attention and studies have shown that men contribute 40-70% of a couple’s infertility.

In recent years, extensive evidence has suggested a global declining trend in semen quality, and several studies have reported significant declines in sperm concentration, count and motility in recent decades, by approximately 50% over 50 years. Is.

We spoke to Dr Sanjay Prakash J, consultant microsurgical andrologist and urologist, Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Chennai, to understand how. air pollution makes an impact male fertility,

He said common explanations are varicocele, seminal infection, hormonal imbalance, cryptorchidism (undescended testis). lifestyle Factors such as diet, stress, smoking, obesity, drug and steroid abuse and BMI. In recent years, studies have documented the significant effects that environmental factors have on male fertility.

Studies have shown that, today, approximately 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of indoor pollution, while 99% of the global population breathes air pollutants in excess of the World Health Organization’s guideline limits. This trend is particularly worrying in highly polluted areas in South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa, where infertility rates are high.

Exposure to air pollutants occurs continuously, either from indoor (household) or outdoor (ambient) sources, resulting in exposure to a transient mixture of pollutants. Air pollutants that pose public health concerns include the following: CO, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), SO2, O3, and particulate matter (2.5 µm; 10 µm).

Upon entry, air pollutants cause an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), induce lipid peroxidation in membranes, leading to structural deformity of spermatozoa, leading to sperm death (apoptosis) and poor count, impaired motility, Abnormal morphology, DNA strand breaks, sperm aneuploidy occur. And other genetic abnormalities, apoptosis of testicular germ cells and more. It also causes disruption in the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, resulting in an imbalance of the testosterone hormone milieu, resulting in male infertility.

Nevertheless, studies have shown that exposure to air pollutants can affect male sexual health, either through the onset of depression and anxiety or through disruption of chemical pathways.

Chronic and prolonged exposure to air pollutants leads to the development or worsening of acute or chronic health conditions which further impacts reproductive health.

Therefore, it is important to emphasize the need to increase awareness among the public and authorities. The effects of air pollution on male fertility are largely preventable and policy makers need to recognize the risks and act to improve air quality as a public health priority. Tackling air pollution by reducing emissions, promoting clean energy, and encouraging urban green spaces can help reduce this hidden risk to male fertility. As the world grapples with an environmental health crisis, acknowledging the impact of air pollution on reproductive health is an important step toward protecting future generations.

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