The influence of air pollution on human reproduction

• Main Authors: Artur Wdowiak, Edyta Wdowiak, Iwona Bojar, Grzegorz Bakalczuk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Index Copernicus International S.A. 2018-02-01
• Series: Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej
• Subjects: air pollution; pregnancy; fertility; semen; fetus defects
• Online Access: http://phmd.pl/gicid/01.3001.0010.8700
• ISSN: 0032-5449; 1732-2693

Air pollution is the main reason for global environmental hazards and human population. It is caused by different chemical compounds emitted by industry, vehicles and households. When inhaled with air, such substances get into the blood and they penetrate almost all the tissues, disturbing thus their physiology. Their detrimental effect is caused by the generation zanieczyszof oxidative stress, which results in the peroxidation of cell membranes and disturbance of basic cell functions. The latest worldwide research has proven the relationship between the exposure to air pollution and an increased mortality rate due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Recently, it has been confirmed in numerous publications that air pollution also has an adverse effect on the human reproductive potential. It is the objective of the present article to analyze the current knowledge about the relationship between hazardous substances present in the air and human fertility function. Numerous research studies have shown that air pollution negatively affects men’s semen parameters, especially the morphological structure of sperm. However, the available research results present the inconsistent hierarchy of the impact that the individual chemical substances have on a given sperm’s parameter. Air pollution is also responsible for the epigenetic changes in sperm, which may result in genetic mutations of future generations. The relationship between the exposure to air pollution and reduced female fertility, as well as the risk of miscarriage and genetic disorders (e.g. Down syndrome), teratogenic effects (congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, cleft palate) and the low birth weight of fetus, has been already confirmed. The adverse impact of air pollution on the operating efficiency of an IVF laboratory has been also proven. Thus, all of the above creates the need for further research on that issue and organization of the existing knowledge.