Anglia Ruskin Research Online (ARRO)
Browse

Pollutants and sperm quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Download (579.11 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-30, 17:51 authored by Damiano Pizzol, Carlo Foresta, Andrea Garolla, Jacopo Demurtas, Mike Trott, Alessandro Bertoldo, Lee Smith
Male fertility and semen quality have declined over recent decades. Among other causes, exposure to environmental and occupational pollution has been linked to adverse reproductive outcomes, but effects on male semen quality are still uncertain. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess current evidence regarding the impact of exposure to tobacco smoke and environmental and occupational pollution on sperm quality in humans. In the meta-analysis, 22 studies are included showing that environmental and occupational pollutants may affect sperm count, volume, concentration, motility, vitality and sperm DNA, and chromatin integrity. All included articles reported significant alterations in at least one of the outcomes studied in association with at least one of the pollutants studied. Considering that sperm quality can be considered a proxy for general health and that pollutants have a dramatic impact on climate change, it would be strongly recommended to better understand the role of pollutants on human, animal, and planetary health.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

28

Page range

4095-4103

Publication title

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

ISSN

1614-7499

Publisher

Springer

File version

  • Accepted version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2020-11-06

Legacy creation date

2020-11-06

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Faculty of Science & Engineering

Usage metrics

    ARU Outputs

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC