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Shi Y, Zhang Y, Yuan K, Han Z, Zhao S, Zhang Z, Cao W, Li Y, Zeng Q, Sun S. Exposure to ambient ozone and sperm quality among adult men in China. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 283:116753. [PMID: 39083872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited evidence exists regarding the association between ozone exposure and adverse sperm quality. We aimed to assess the association between ozone exposure and sperm quality, and identify susceptible exposure windows. METHODS We recruited 32,541 men aged between 22 and 65 years old attending an infertility clinic in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China from 2014 to 2020. Ozone data were obtained from a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the association between ozone exposure and sperm quality parameters, including sperm concentration, sperm count, sperm total motility, and sperm progressive motility during the entire stage of sperm development (0-90 days before ejaculation) and three crucial stages (0-9 days, 10-14 days and 70-90 days before ejaculation). Stratified analyses were performed to evaluate whether associations varied by age, body mass index, and education levels. RESULTS The final analysis included 27,854 adult men. A 10 μg/m3 increase in ozone concentrations during the entire stage of sperm development was associated with a -4.17 % (95 % CI: -4.78 %, -3.57 %) decrease in sperm concentration, -6.54 % (95 % CI: -8.03 %, -5.60 %) decrease in sperm count, -0.50 % (95 % CI: -0.66 %, -0.34 %) decrease in sperm total motility, and -0.07 % (95 % CI: -0.22 %, 0.09 %) decrease in sperm progressive motility. The associations were stronger during 70-90 days before ejaculation and among men with middle school and lower education for sperm concentration. CONCLUSIONS Ozone exposure was associated with decreased sperm quality among Chinese adult men attending an infertility clinic. These results suggest that ozone may be a risk factor contributing to decreased sperm quality in Chinese men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadi Shi
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yangchang Zhang
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Kun Yuan
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Ze Han
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Shi Zhao
- School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Global Health, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China; Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wangnan Cao
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yufeng Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 1095, China.
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Shengzhi Sun
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
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Shen Z, Zhang F, Guo Z, Qu R, Wei Y, Wang J, Zhang W, Xing X, Zhang Y, Liu J, Tang D. Association between air pollution and male sexual function: A nationwide observational study in China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134010. [PMID: 38492404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the associations between air pollution and male sexual function. A total of 5047 male subjects in China were included in this study. The average air pollution exposure (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2, and O3) for the preceding 1, 3, 6, and 12 months before the participants' response was assessed. Male sexual function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT). Generalized linear models were utilized to explore the associations between air pollution and male sexual function. K-prototype algorithm was conducted to identify the association among specific populations. Significant adverse effects on the IIEF-5 score were observed with NO2 exposure during the preceding 1, 3, and 6 months (1 m: β = -5.26E-05; 3 m: β = -4.83E-05; 6 m: β = -4.23E-05, P < 0.05). PM2.5 exposure during the preceding 12 months was found to significantly negatively affect the PEDT after adjusting for confounding variables. Our research indicated negative correlations between air pollutant exposures and male sexual function for the first time. Furthermore, these associations were more pronounced among specific participants who maintain a normal BMI, exhibit extroverted traits, and currently engage in smoking and alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyuan Shen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Zihan Guo
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Qu
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Yiqiu Wei
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Jingxuan Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Weiqian Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Xing Xing
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China.
| | - Jue Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Dongdong Tang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei 230032, China.
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Luo Y, Xu D, Ma Y, Yu W, Chen Y, Han X. Mediation of association between semen microcystin exposure and semen quality by sex hormones in Chinese men. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 124:108529. [PMID: 38159577 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown microcystins (MCs) inducing male reproductive toxicity, but the underlying mechanisms in humans are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of serum sex hormones in the association between MC exposure and semen quality. In this study, we measured the levels of semen MCs and serum sex hormones in Chinese men [sample 1 (n = 649); sample 2 (n = 924)]. The results showed that there was a non-significant dose-dependent relationship between semen MCs and semen volume reduction (p for trend = 0.079) in sample 1, and semen MCs were significantly negatively associated with total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, mean angular displacement and acrosome integrity (p < 0.05) in sample 2. We also found that semen MCs were significantly positively associated with serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (β = 0.151; 95% CI: 0.065, 0.236), but negatively associated with serum inhibin B (INHB) (β = -0.605; 95% CI: -0.944, -0.265), and these linear associations were confirmed in restricted cubic spline (RCS) models (all pnon-linearity > 0.1). Furthermore, mediation analysis revealed that serum INHB mediated 19.86% of the adverse effect of MC exposure on acrosome integrity. In conclusion, this study reveals the mediating roles of serum sex hormones in the relationship between MC exposure and decreased semen quality in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Luo
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Dihui Xu
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yuhan Ma
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Wen Yu
- Department of Andrology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yabing Chen
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
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Ma Y, Hu C, Cai G, Xia Q, Fan D, Cao Y, Pan F. Associations of exposure to ambient fine particulate matter constituents from different pollution sources with semen quality: Evidence from a prospective cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123200. [PMID: 38135136 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The association between ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and semen quality remains inconclusive, possibly due to variations in pollution sources and PM2.5 compositions. Studies investigating the constituents of PM2.5 have been hindered by small sample sizes, and research exploring the relationships between PM2.5 pollution sources and semen quality is lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study based on the Anhui prospective assisted reproduction cohort to evaluate the associations between semen quality and the constituents and pollution sources of PM2.5. This study included 9013 semen samples from 4417 males in the urban districts of Hefei. The median concentrations of PM2.5 constituents, including eight metals and four water-soluble ions (WSIs), were measured for seven days per month at two monitoring stations during the 0-90-day exposure window. A linear mixed-effects model, weighted quantile sum regression, and positive matrix factorisation were used to evaluate the associations of the constituents and pollution sources of PM2.5 with semen quality. The results showed that exposure to PM2.5-bound metals (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and thallium) and WSIs (sulphate and chloride) were negatively associated with semen quality parameters. Moreover, mixtures of PM2.5-bound metals and WSIs were negatively associated with semen quality. Additionally, PM2.5 derived from traffic emissions was negatively associated with semen quality. In summary, our study revealed that ambient PM2.5 and its constituents, especially metals, were negatively associated with semen quality. Antimony, lead, and thallium emerged as the primary contributors to toxicity, and PM2.5 from traffic emissions was associated with decreased semen quality. These findings have important public health implications for the management of PM2.5 pollution in the context of male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chengyang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Guoqi Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dazhi Fan
- Foshan Institute of Fetal Medicine, Southern Medical University Affiliated Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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Fang H, Jiang D, He Y, Wu S, Li Y, Zhang Z, Chen H, Zheng Z, Sun Y, Wang W. Association of ambient air pollution and pregnancy rate among women undergoing assisted reproduction technology in Fujian, China: A retrospective cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168287. [PMID: 37924883 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported the impact of ambient air pollutants on assisted reproduction. They concentrated on highly polluted environments and individual pollutants. It is unclear whether these effects continue at lower levels and as mixed effects. We aimed to study the influence of lower pollutant concentrations on pregnancy rates and identify vulnerable populations. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 9465 patients with infertility who received treatment from a local hospital between 2015 and 2021. Daily average levels of six pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, SO2, and O3) were collected from air quality monitoring stations. We employed generalized linear regression models (logistic, linear, and lasso), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the impact of pollutants on pregnancy rates. Additionally, stratified analyses were performed to identify potentially vulnerable populations. RESULTS Findings from the generalized linear models revealed a significant negative correlation between interquartile range increment exposure to PM2.5 (OR = 1.17, 95 % CI = 1.09-1.26), PM10 (OR = 1.18, 95 % CI = 1.11-1.26), NO2 (OR = 1.21, 95 % CI = 1.13-1.30), CO (OR = 1.02, 95 % CI = 1.00-1.03), SO2 (OR = 1.11, 95 % CI = 1.05-1.17) and pregnancy rate when considering the effects of individual pollutants. The WQS index exhibited a negative correlation with pregnancy rates and the number of oocytes retrieved (aOR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.08-1.34). BKMR analyses indicated an overall significant trend of decreasing pregnancy rates as pollutant concentrations increased across percentiles. Stratified analysis unveiled heightened sensitivity to pollutants among individuals aged ≥35 years. CONCLUSIONS By comparing results obtained from diverse models, we observed that exposure to lower levels of air pollutants led to decreased pregnancy rates. Notably, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO emerged as the four most prominent pollutants in this context. Moreover, stratified analyses highlighted that individuals aged ≥35 years exhibited heightened susceptibility to pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Fang
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Dongdong Jiang
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ye He
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Siyi Wu
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yuehong Li
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ziqi Zhang
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Haoting Chen
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Zixin Zheng
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Wenxiang Wang
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
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Omolaoye TS, Skosana BT, Ferguson LM, Ramsunder Y, Ayad BM, Du Plessis SS. Implications of Exposure to Air Pollution on Male Reproduction: The Role of Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:64. [PMID: 38247488 PMCID: PMC10812603 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Air pollution, either from indoor (household) or outdoor (ambient) sources, occurs when there is presence of respirable particles in the form of chemical, physical, or biological agents that modify the natural features of the atmosphere or environment. Today, almost 2.4 billion people are exposed to hazardous levels of indoor pollution, while 99% of the global population breathes air pollutants that exceed the World Health Organization guideline limits. It is not surprising that air pollution is the world's leading environmental cause of diseases and contributes greatly to the global burden of diseases. Upon entry, air pollutants can cause an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by undergoing oxidation to generate quinones, which further act as oxidizing agents to yield more ROS. Excessive production of ROS can cause oxidative stress, induce lipid peroxidation, enhance the binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to their receptors, or bind to PAH to cause DNA strand breaks. The continuous and prolonged exposure to air pollutants is associated with the development or exacerbation of pathologies such as acute or chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative and skin diseases, and even reduced fertility potential. Males and females contribute to infertility equally, and exposure to air pollutants can negatively affect reproduction. In this review, emphasis will be placed on the implications of exposure to air pollutants on male fertility potential, bringing to light its effects on semen parameters (basic and advanced) and male sexual health. This study will also touch on the clinical implications of air pollution on male reproduction while highlighting the role of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temidayo S. Omolaoye
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Bongekile T. Skosana
- Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7602, South Africa; (B.T.S.); (L.M.F.); (Y.R.)
| | - Lisa Marie Ferguson
- Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7602, South Africa; (B.T.S.); (L.M.F.); (Y.R.)
| | - Yashthi Ramsunder
- Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7602, South Africa; (B.T.S.); (L.M.F.); (Y.R.)
| | - Bashir M. Ayad
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Misurata University, Misratah P.O. Box 2478, Libya;
| | - Stefan S. Du Plessis
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates;
- Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7602, South Africa; (B.T.S.); (L.M.F.); (Y.R.)
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Lien HT, Tsai NC, Lin YJ, Lan KC. The effect of various air pollution and participants' age on semen quality in southern Taiwan. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 62:838-844. [PMID: 38008502 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the association between semen quality and air pollution in southern Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective study, 4338 males aged 21-70 years were recruited between 2001 and 2018 from a reproductive medical center. Semen quality was assessed according to standardized methods outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory Manual 1999 and 2010, including total sperm count, progressive sperm motility (%), rapid progressive sperm motility (%), and sperm with normal morphology (%). All designated national air quality automatic continuous monitoring stations measured the levels of air pollution [particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3)], and was documented by Environmental Protection Administration in Taiwan. We collected data on the levels of air pollution based on the participants' residential addresses. RESULTS In our study, we found that progressive and rapid progressive sperm motility significantly decreased annually (p < 0.05). In addition, increasing age influenced total sperm count, progressive sperm motility, rapid progressive sperm motility, and sperm with normal morphology (p < 0.05). Among different air pollution, we observed SO2 was associated with lower rapid progressive sperm motility and lower sperm with normal morphology (β = -0.103, p = 0.043; β = 0.118, p = 0.001, respectively). However, NO2 was associated with higher rapid progressive sperm motility and a high number of sperm with normal morphology (β = 0.129, p = 0.002; β = 0.127, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The semen quality in southern Taiwan appears to have declined in recent years. The participant's age for semen analysis was most strongly associated with semen parameters, Moreover, a significant association between SO2 and NO2 levels and semen motility was observed, even after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Further study is required to analyze the dose-dependent effect of SO2 and NO2 on semen parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ting Lien
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ni-Chin Tsai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ju Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chung Lan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center for Menopause and Reproductive Medicine Research, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
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8
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Cai X, Ni H, Wang Q, Dai T, Wang L, Song C, Li Y, Li F, Meng T, Sheng H, Xiao L, Xu T, Yu X, Zeng Q, Guo P, Zhang X. Sperm quality decline associated with gaseous pollutant exposure: Evidence from a large cohort multicenter study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132330. [PMID: 37611389 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor sperm quality is a prevalent cause of male infertility, and the association between gaseous ambient air pollutants exposure and semen quality remains unclear. OBJECTIVES To examine the relationship between gaseous air pollution exposure with semen quality in a large-scale and multi-center study. METHODS We analyzed 78,952 samples corresponding to 33,234 study subjects from 2014 to 2020. The high-resolution grid pollution dataset was used to estimate personal exposures to CO, SO2, NO2 and O3 across entire stage of semen formation and three crucial stages. The linear mixed models were performed to evaluate the relationships. RESULTS The results showed that sperm count was inversely related to SO2 exposure (-0.0070, -0.0128 to -0.0011). Decreased sperm concentration was associated with SO2 (-0.0083, -0.0142 to -0.0024), NO2 (-0.0162, -0.0320 to -0.0005) and O3 (-0.0306, -0.0480 to -0.0133) during 0-90 lag days, respectively. Additionally, we observed significant decline of PR and total motility with SO2 exposure. Similar trends were observed for SO2 and CO exposure during 3 key periods. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that exposure to gaseous air pollutants may have negative impacts on sperm quality. These findings highlight the importance that critical periods of sperm development should be considered when implementing protective measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Cai
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Haobo Ni
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Dai
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Lingxi Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Chunying Song
- Human Sperm Bank, the Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yushan Li
- Human Sperm Bank, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fuping Li
- Human Sperm Bank, the Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianqing Meng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Human Sperm Bank, Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiqiang Sheng
- Human Sperm Bank, the Zhejiang Provincial Maternal and Child and Reproductive Health Care Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lina Xiao
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xiaolin Yu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Qinghui Zeng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Pi Guo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China; Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), China.
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9
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Liu J, Dai Y, Li R, Yuan J, Wang Q, Wang L. Does air pollution exposure affect semen quality? Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 93,996 Chinese men. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1219340. [PMID: 37601219 PMCID: PMC10435904 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1219340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Air pollution may impair male fertility, but it remains controversial whether air pollution affects semen quality until now. Objectives We undertake a meta-analysis to explore potential impacts of six pollutants exposure during the entire window (0-90 days prior to ejaculation) and critical windows (0-9, 10-14, and 70-90 days prior to ejaculation) on semen quality. Methods Seven databases were retrieved for original studies on the effects of six pollutants exposure for 90 days prior to ejaculation on semen quality. The search process does not limit the language and search date. We only included original studies that reported regression coefficients (β) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The β and 95% CIs were pooled using the DerSimonian-Laird random effect models. Results PM2.5 exposure was related with decreased total sperm number (10-14 lag days) and total motility (10-14, 70-90, and 0-90 lag days). PM10 exposure was related with reduced total sperm number (70-90 and 0-90 lag days) and total motility (0-90 lag days). NO2 exposure was related with reduced total sperm number (70-90 and 0-90 lag days). SO2 exposure was related with declined total motility (0-9, 10-14, 0-90 lag days) and total sperm number (0-90 lag days). Conclusion Air pollution affects semen quality making it necessary to limit exposure to air pollution for Chinese men. When implementing protective measures, it is necessary to consider the key period of sperm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Liu
- Henan Human Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanpeng Dai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Runqing Li
- The Neonatal Screening Center in Henan Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiayi Yuan
- The Neonatal Screening Center in Henan Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Quanxian Wang
- Henan Human Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Linkai Wang
- Henan Human Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Yildiz A, Ozhan O, Ulu A, Dogan T, Bakar B, Ugur Y, Taslidere E, Gokbulut I, Polat S, Parlakpinar H, Ates B, Vardi N. Effects of the apricot diets containing sulfur dioxide at different concentrations on rat testicles. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27692-w. [PMID: 37204578 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27692-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, sulfur dioxide (SO2) is widely used in foods and beverages to prevent the growth of microorganisms and to preserve the color and flavor of fruits. However, the amount of SO2 used in fruit preservation should be limited due to its possible adverse effects on human health. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of different SO2 concentrations in apricot diets on rat testes. Animals were randomly divided into six groups. The control group was fed a standard diet, and the other groups were fed apricot diet pellets prepared with (w/w) 10% dried apricots containing SO2 at different concentrations (1500 ppm, 2000 ppm, 2500 ppm, 3000 ppm, and 3500 ppm/kg) for 24 weeks. After sacrification, testicles were evaluated biochemically, histopathologically, and immunohistopathologically. Our results showed that an apricot diet containing 1500 ppm and 2000 ppm SO2 did not cause significant changes in testis. However, it was determined that tissue testosterone levels decreased as the amount of SO2 (2500 ppm and above) increased. Apricot diet containing 3500 ppm SO2 caused a significant increase in spermatogenic cell apoptosis, oxidative damage, and histopathological changes. In addition, a decrease in the expression of connexin-43, vimentin, and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) was observed in the same group. In summary, the results show that sulfurization of apricot at high concentrations such as 3500 ppm may lead to male fertility problems in the long term through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, spermatogenic cell apoptosis, and inhibition of steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azibe Yildiz
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey.
| | - Onural Ozhan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Ulu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Tugba Dogan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Busra Bakar
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Yilmaz Ugur
- Vocational School of Health Service, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Elif Taslidere
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Incilay Gokbulut
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Seyhan Polat
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Hakan Parlakpinar
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Burhan Ates
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Nigar Vardi
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey
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11
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Chieffi Baccari G, Iurato G, Santillo A, Dale B. Male Germ Cell Telomeres and Chemical Pollutants. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050745. [PMID: 37238614 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, male infertility has been correlated with the shortening of sperm telomeres. Telomeres regulate the reproductive lifespan by mediating the synapsis and homologous recombination of chromosomes during gametogenesis. They are composed of thousands of hexanucleotide DNA repeats (TTAGGG) that are coupled to specialized shelterin complex proteins and non-coding RNAs. Telomerase activity in male germ cells ensures that the telomere length is maintained at maximum levels during spermatogenesis, despite telomere shortening due to DNA replication or other genotoxic factors such as environmental pollutants. An emerging body of evidence has associated an exposure to pollutants with male infertility. Although telomeric DNA may be one of the important targets of environmental pollutants, only a few authors have considered it as a conventional parameter for sperm function. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive and up-to-date data on the research carried out so far on the structure/function of telomeres in spermatogenesis and the influence of environmental pollutants on their functionality. The link between pollutant-induced oxidative stress and telomere length in germ cells is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Chieffi Baccari
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Santillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Brian Dale
- Centro Fecondazione Assistita (CFA-Italia), 80127 Napoli, Italy
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12
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Xu R, Zhong Y, Li R, Li Y, Zhong Z, Liu T, Wang Q, Lv Z, Huang S, Duan YG, Zhang X, Liu Y. Association between exposure to ambient air pollution and semen quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161892. [PMID: 36731563 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence has linked exposure to ambient air pollution to a reduction in semen quality; however, the exposure-response associations are yet to be synthesized. OBJECTIVE To summarize the exposure-response associations between air pollution and semen quality. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant studies published before April 20, 2022. Studies investigating the exposure-response association of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 with semen quality written in English were included. Semen quality parameters included semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, progressive motility, and normal forms. Random-effects and fixed-effects models were performed to synthesize associations in the meta-analysis. RESULTS The search returned 850 studies, 11 of which were eligible for meta-analysis. Each 10 μg/m3 increase of exposure to PM10 and SO2 was respectively associated with a 2.18 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.10 %-4.21 %) and 8.61 % (1.00 %-15.63 %) reduction in sperm concentration, and a 2.76 % (0.10 %-5.35 %) and 9.52 % (5.82 %-13.93 %) reduction in total sperm number. Each 10 μg/m3 increase of exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was respectively associated with a 1.06 % (95 % CI: 0.31 %-1.82 %) and 0.75 % (0.43 %-1.08 %) reduction in total motility, and a 0.55 % (0.09 %-1.01 %) and 0.31 % (0.06 %-0.56 %) reduction in progressive motility. No association was observed for PM2.5 or PM10 with semen volume; PM2.5, NO2, CO, or O3 with sperm concentration or total sperm number; and gaseous air pollutants with total or progressive motility. The association between air pollution and normal forms was not summarized due to insufficient number of studies. No significant publication bias was detected. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to ambient PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 was inversely associated with sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, and/or progressive motility. Our findings add to the evidence that air pollution may lead to adverse effects on male reproductive system and suggest that reducing exposure to air pollution may help maintain better semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanling Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingxin Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihua Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziquan Lv
- Central laboratory of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Suli Huang
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong-Gang Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Centre of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuewei Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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13
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Zhang F, Li H, Xu W, Song G, Wang Z, Mao X, Wei Y, Dai M, Zhang Y, Shen Q, Fu F, Tan J, Ge L, He X, Yin T, Yang S, Li S, Yang P, Jia P, Zhang Y. Sulfur dioxide may predominate in the adverse effects of ambient air pollutants on semen quality among the general population in Hefei, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161472. [PMID: 36638985 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported potential adverse effects of exposure to ambient air pollutants on semen quality in infertile men, but studies on the general population have been limited and inconsistent, and the pollutants that play a major role remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential association between exposure to six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, O3 and CO) during different sperm development periods and semen quality among the general population, and to explore the interaction between different air pollutant exposures. We included 1515 semen samples collected from the Human Sperm Bank. We improved individuals' exposure level estimation by combining inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation with satellite remote sensing data. Multivariate linear regression models, restricted cubic spline functions and double-pollutant models were used to assess the relationship between exposure to six air pollutants and sperm volume, concentration, total sperm number and sperm motility. A negative association was found between SO2 exposure and progressive motility and total motility during 0-90 lag days and 70-90 lag days, and SO2 exposure during 10-14 lag days adversely affected sperm concentration and total sperm number. Sensitive analyses for qualified sperm donors and the double-pollutant models obtained similar results. Additionally, there were nonlinear relationships between exposure to PM, NO2, O3, CO and a few semen parameters, with NO2 and O3 exposure above the threshold showing negative correlations with total motility and progressive motility, respectively. Our study suggested that SO2 may play a dominant role in the adverse effects of ambient air pollutants on semen quality in the general population by decreasing sperm motility, sperm concentration and total sperm number. Also, even SO2 exposure lower than the recommended standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) could still cause male reproductive toxicity, which deserves attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hang Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenting Xu
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ge Song
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhanpeng Wang
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaohong Mao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yiqiu Wei
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mengyang Dai
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qunshan Shen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Feifei Fu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jing Tan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Ge
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tailang Yin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shujuan Yang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Siwei Li
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Pan Yang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Peng Jia
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Luojia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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14
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Zhang X, Fan Z, Wang Q, Deng X, Xu R, Li Y, Liu T, Wang R, Shi C, Huang S, Lv Z, Chen G, Duan YG, Liu Y. Association between ambient temperature and semen quality among sperm donation volunteers in South China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107809. [PMID: 36805156 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Potential adverse effects of non-optimum temperatures on human semen quality have drawn much concern worldwide; however, the exposure-response relationship remains less understood. OBJECTIVES To quantitatively assess the association between exposure to ambient temperature and semen quality in South China, and to identify potential critical exposure windows. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate 11,050 volunteers who lived in Guangdong province, China and intended to donate sperm in the Guangdong provincial human sperm bank during 2016-2021. Exposure to ambient temperature during 0-90 days before semen collection was assessed by extracting daily temperatures from a validated grid dataset at each subject's residential address. Linear mixed models and linear regression models were used to perform exposure-response analyses. RESULTS During the study period, the 11,050 subjects underwent 44,564 semen analyses. Each 5 °C increase of lag 0-90 day exposure to ambient temperature was approximately linearly associated with a 3.11 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.08, 4.14) × 106/ml, 9.31 (4.83, 13.80) × 106, 1.27 % (0.91 %, 1.62 %), 8.20 (5.33, 11.08) × 106, 1.37 % (1.01 %, 1.74 %), 8.29 (5.52, 11.06) × 106, 0.67 % (0.28 %, 1.05 %), and 4.50 (2.20, 6.80) × 106 reduction in sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, total motile sperm number, progressive motility, total progressive sperm number, normal forms, and total normal form sperm number, respectively (all p < 0.001), which was not significantly modified by age (all p for effect modification > 0.05). We identified a critical exposure period of 10-14 days before semen collection for sperm motility, and 70-90 days before semen collection for sperm count and morphology. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides consistent evidence that higher ambient temperature was significantly associated with a reduction in semen quality in South China. The findings highlight the needs to reduce high temperature exposures during 3 months before ejaculation to maintain better semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzong Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510600, China
| | - Zhaoyu Fan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510600, China
| | - Xinyi Deng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Ruijun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yingxin Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Luohu District Chronic Disease Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518020, China
| | - Chunxiang Shi
- Meteorological Data Laboratory, National Meteorological Information Center, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Suli Huang
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Ziquan Lv
- Central Laboratory of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Gongbo Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yong-Gang Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Centre of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518053, China
| | - Yuewei Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
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15
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Ma Y, Peng X, Pan Z, Hu C, Xia Q, Cai G, Cao Y, Pan F. Linear and non-linear relationships between sulfur dioxide and semen quality: A longitudinal study in Anhui, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114731. [PMID: 36368370 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Existing evidence indicates that ambient air pollutants pose a threat to human semen quality; however, these findings are sparse and controversial. Besides, their non-linear dose-response relationship has not yet been well investigated. This study aimed to explore the linear and non-linear associations of gaseous air pollutants exposure with semen quality based on a large longitudinal cohort. A total of 15,112 males (with 28,267 semen tests) from the Anhui prospective assisted reproduction cohort were analyzed. Individual air pollutants exposure before semen tests in four exposure windows (i.e., 0-9, 10-14, 70-90, and 0-90 days) were estimated by inverse distance weighting interpolation. Linear mixed-effects models, cubic spline analysis and piecewise regression were used to test the potential linear and non-linear dose-response relationships. Ambient SO2 exposure was negatively associated with all semen quality parameters (all p values < 0.05), except for the progressive motility in the 0-90 and 70-90 days exposure windows. There were 'J' or 'U' shaped dose-response relationships of ambient SO2 exposure with total sperm count, progressive motility, total motility, progressively motile sperm count, and total motile sperm count (p values for non-linearity < 0.05), but not sperm concentration. Piecewise regression analysis also indicated a negative association of SO2 exposure with semen quality only when SO2 exposure was below the cut-off points identified by cubic spline analyses, which were all smaller than 40 μg/m3, the 2021 updated WHO air quality guideline level for SO2 exposure. Overall, we found that SO2 exposure was negatively associated with semen quality. Ambient SO2 exposure could reach the maximum hazardous dose even below the WHO air quality guideline level for SO2 exposure, suggesting a refinement to the current guideline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoqing Peng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; School of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhipeng Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chengyang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Guoqi Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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Yu X, Wang Q, Wei J, Zeng Q, Xiao L, Ni H, Xu T, Wu H, Guo P, Zhang X. Impacts of traffic-related particulate matter pollution on semen quality: A retrospective cohort study relying on the random forest model in a megacity of South China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158387. [PMID: 36049696 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence shows the detrimental impacts of particulate matter (PM) on poor semen quality. High-resolution estimates of PM concentrations are conducive to evaluating accurate associations between traffic-related PM exposure and semen quality. METHODS In this study, we firstly developed a random forest model incorporating meteorological factors, land-use information, traffic-related variables, and other spatiotemporal predictors to estimate daily traffic-related PM concentrations, including PM2.5, PM10, and PM1. Then we enrolled 1310 semen donors corresponding to 4912 semen samples during the study period from January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019 in Guangzhou city, China. Linear mixed models were employed to associate individual exposures to traffic-related PM during the entire (0-90 lag days) and key periods (0-37 and 34-77 lag days) with semen quality parameters, including sperm concentration, sperm count, progressive motility and total motility. RESULTS The results showed that decreased sperm concentration was associated with PM10 exposures (β: -0.21, 95 % CI: -0.35, -0.07), sperm count was inversely related to both PM2.5 (β: -0.19, 95 % CI: -0.35, -0.02) and PM10 (β: -0.19, 95 % CI: -0.33, -0.05) during the 0-90 days lag exposure window. Besides, PM2.5 and PM10 might diminish sperm concentration by mainly affecting the late phase of sperm development (0-37 lag days). Stratified analyses suggested that PBF and drinking seemed to modify the associations between PM exposure and sperm motility. We did not observe any significant associations of PM1 exposures with semen parameters. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that exposure to traffic-related PM2.5 and PM10 pollution throughout spermatogenesis may adversely affect semen quality, especially sperm concentration and count. The findings provided more evidence for the negative associations between traffic-related PM exposure and semen quality, highlighting the necessity to reduce ambient air pollution through environmental policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Yu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China; Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), China
| | - Jing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Qinghui Zeng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Lina Xiao
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Haobo Ni
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Haisheng Wu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Pi Guo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), China
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Ma Y, Zhang J, Cai G, Xia Q, Xu S, Hu C, Cao Y, Pan F. Inverse association between ambient particulate matter and semen quality in Central China: Evidence from a prospective cohort study of 15,112 participants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155252. [PMID: 35427605 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that ambient particulate matter (PM) is harmful to male fertility, but the associations between ambient PM exposure and semen quality were inconsistent. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the association between ambient PM exposure and semen quality based on a large prospective cohort. Using data from the prospective assisted reproduction cohort in Anhui province, China, we included 15,112 males with 28,267 semen tests, whose partner has undergone assisted reproductive technology from September 1, 2015 to September, 22 2020. Individual ambient PM, gaseous air pollutants, and temperature exposures of the participants during 0-90, 0-9, 10-14, and 70-90 days before semen quality tests were evaluated using inverse distance weighting interpolation. Linear mixed-effects models were conducted to evaluate the relationship between PM2.5 and PM10 exposures and standardized semen quality parameters. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, education attainment, occupation type, sampling month, temperature and the principal component of gaseous air pollutants. PM2.5 and PM10 were inversely associated with sperm concentration, total sperm count, total motility, progressive motility, total motile sperm count, and progressively motile sperm count during 0-90, 0-9, and 70-90 days period (all p < 0.05), but not 10-14 days period. The regression coefficients of PM2.5 exposure on semen quality parameters during 0-90 days period were larger than 0-9 and 70-90 days periods, and the effects of PM2.5 on semen quality parameters were stronger than PM10. Our results showed that ambient PM2.5 and PM10 exposures were associated with semen quality, during 70-90 days and 0-9 days before sampling, and the entire spermatogenesis process. The effects of PM2.5 on semen quality parameters were stronger than PM10, and the long-term effects of PM2.5 and PM10, throughout spermatogenesis, were stronger than the short-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Guoqi Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chengyang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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18
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Cheng Y, Tang Q, Lu Y, Li M, Zhou Y, Wu P, Li J, Pan F, Han X, Chen M, Lu C, Wang X, Wu W, Xia Y. Semen quality and sperm DNA methylation in relation to long-term exposure to air pollution in fertile men: A cross-sectional study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 300:118994. [PMID: 35167929 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Some studies have examined the association between air pollution and semen quality. While it is less of evidence on the sperm quality after long-term air pollution exposure, especially the co-exposure of different air pollution components. Additionally, the role of DNA methylation in it hasn't been confirmed. This study aimed to investigate whether long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with semen quality, as well as to explore the effect of sperm DNA methylation in such association. From 2014 to 2016, 1607 fertile men were enrolled to evaluate 14 parameters of semen quality. Exposure window was defined as one-year before semen sampling. Multivariable linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model were used to investigate the association between six air pollutants co-exposure and semen quality. Sensitivity analysis regarding at the normal semen quality group was also conducted. Semen samples were randomly selected from 200 participants to detect the genomic 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) levels in sperm. In the total population, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 were negatively associated with sperm total motility (PM10: β = -2.67, P = 0.009; PM2.5: β = -2.86, P = 0.004; SO2: β = -2.32, P = 0.011; NO2: β = -2.21, P = 0.012). Results of the normal semen quality group were consistent with those from the whole population. WQS regression results indicated significant decreasing sperm total motility after the co-exposure of the six air pollutants (β = -1.64, P = 0.003) in whole participants. Wherein, PM10 accounted for largest proportion (43.4%). The 5-hmC level was positively associated with PM10 exposure (β = 0.002, P < 0.001). Long-term exposure to PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2, as well as co-exposure to six air pollutants, reduced semen quality in fertile men. As the most significant contributor of air pollutant, PM10 exposure decreased sperm DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiuqin Tang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiwen Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yijie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peihao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Feng Pan
- Department of Urology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiumei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Minjian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chuncheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yankai Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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19
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Xu G, Luo Y, Xu D, Ma Y, Chen Y, Han X. Male reproductive toxicity induced by Microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR). Toxicon 2022; 210:78-88. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Qian H, Xu Q, Yan W, Fan Y, Li Z, Tao C, Zhang F, Lu C. Association between exposure to ambient air pollution and semen quality in adults: a meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:10792-10801. [PMID: 34532803 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16484-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution has become a global concern and may be hazardous to human reproductive capacity, but the impact of exposure to air pollutants on semen quality remains controversial. We performed the meta-analysis to examine the association between air pollution exposure and semen quality. We searched PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Library databases (before December 2019). We selected original epidemiological studies on humans, written and published in English, that provided quantitative information to determine the associations between air pollution and sperm parameters. A random-effects model was used when the pooled effect estimates were found to be heterogeneous (I2 > 50% or P < 0.05), otherwise, a fixed-effects model was applied. Publication bias was not evaluated for less than 10 included articles. Our meta-analysis showed that the standardised mean differences (SMDs) (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) of sperm concentration, sperm count, and sperm total motility were -0.17 (-0.20, -0.13), -0.05 (-0.08, -0.02), and -0.33 (-0.54, -0.11), respectively. However, exposure to air pollution was not related to sperm progressive motility (SMD = 0.00, 95% CI: -0.13, 0.12). The results indicated that exposure to air pollutants at a higher level was associated with impaired semen quality, including declined sperm concentration, reduced sperm count, and declined total motility. The results suggested that high level of air pollution exposure had a negative effect on semen quality. Improvement of air quality is important for enhancing semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Wenkai Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yun Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chengzhe Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Chuncheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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21
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Kumar S, Sharma A, Thaker R. Air pollutants and impairments of male reproductive health-an overview. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2021; 36:565-575. [PMID: 33544535 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Excessive air pollution, both ambient and indoor are might be detrimental to human wellbeing and are related to morbidity and mortality, it may also affect the reproductive function and its outcome. It is a recognized fact that air pollution contains several toxicants, gases, particulate matter, toxic metals etc. Some of them might affect reproductive and developmental process and a few are persistent. The information accessible on air pollution to human male reproduction is stated to affect semen quality by diminishing one or more sperm quality parameters i.e., sperm morphology, concentration, motility etc. and may causes sperm DNA damage, these might alter the fertility potential which in turn affect pregnancy or its outcome. The impact might be related to the pollutant's concentration and duration of exposure. The data on impact of air contamination on endocrine function are inadequate, inconsistence and the diversity of existence of air contaminants in area to area and multiplicity in semen quality parameters assessed in various studies as well as study design variables complicated the problem of evaluation of impact of air pollution on male reproduction. The data available suggests the air pollution is might be injurious to human male reproductive health, which depends upon amounts of air pollutants in the air, duration of exposure etc. but more comprehensive data are needed to substantiate the findings. The data are also needed on indoor air pollution on reproduction as people are might be subjected to greater quantities of some of the indoor air pollutants as compared to ambient air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar
- A-10, Radhey Kunj Apartment, Shahi Baugh, Ahmedabad, 380004, India
- National Institute of Occupational Health (ICMR), Ahmedabad, 380016, India
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22
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Montano L, Donato F, Bianco PM, Lettieri G, Guglielmino A, Motta O, Bonapace IM, Piscopo M. Air Pollution and COVID-19: A Possible Dangerous Synergy for Male Fertility. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18136846. [PMID: 34202243 PMCID: PMC8297116 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Several studies indicate that semen quality has strongly declined in the last decades worldwide. Air pollution represents a significant co-factor with the COVID-19 impact and has negative effects on the male reproductive system, through pro-oxidant, inflammatory and immune-dysregulating mechanisms. It has recently been reported that chronic exposure to PM2.5 causes overexpression of the alveolar ACE2 receptor, the entry route of SARS-CoV-2 into the organism shared by the lungs and testis where expression is highest in the body. In the testis, the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR pathway plays an important role in the regulation of spermatogenesis and an indirect mechanism of testicular damage could be due to the blockade of the ACE2 receptor by SARS-CoV-2. This prevents the conversion of specific angiotensins, and their excess causes inflammation with the overproduction of cytokines. PM2.5-induced overexpression of the alveolar ACE2 receptor, in turn, could increase local viral load in patients exposed to pollutants, producing ACE2 receptor depletion and compromising host defenses. By presenting an overall view of epidemiological data and molecular mechanisms, this manuscript aims to interpret the possible synergistic effects of both air pollution and COVID-19 on male reproductive function, warning that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the fertile years may represent a significant threat to global reproductive health. All of this should be of great concern, especially for men of the age of maximum reproductive capacity, and an important topic of debate for policy makers. Altered environmental conditions, together with the direct and indirect short- and long-term effects of viral infection could cause a worsening of semen quality with important consequences for male fertility, especially in those areas with higher environmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Montano
- Andrology Unit and Service of Lifestyle Medicine in UroAndrology, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, Coordination Unit of the Network for Environmental and Reproductive Health (EcoFoodFertility Project), “Oliveto Citra Hospital”, 84020 Oliveto Citra, Italy
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (I.M.B.); (M.P.); Tel.: +39-0331-339452 (I.M.B.); +39-0816-79081 (M.P.)
| | - Francesco Donato
- Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 21100 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Pietro Massimiliano Bianco
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Vitaliano Brancati 60, 00144 Roma, Italy;
| | - Gennaro Lettieri
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy;
| | | | - Oriana Motta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy;
| | - Ian Marc Bonapace
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (I.M.B.); (M.P.); Tel.: +39-0331-339452 (I.M.B.); +39-0816-79081 (M.P.)
| | - Marina Piscopo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (I.M.B.); (M.P.); Tel.: +39-0331-339452 (I.M.B.); +39-0816-79081 (M.P.)
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23
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Yang T, Deng L, Sun B, Zhang S, Xian Y, Xiao X, Zhan Y, Xu K, Buonocore JJ, Tang Y, Li F, Qiu Y. Semen quality and windows of susceptibility: A case study during COVID-19 outbreak in China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111085. [PMID: 33812874 PMCID: PMC8542995 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate the impact of air pollution exposure on semen quality parameters during COVID-19 outbreak in China, and to identify potential windows of susceptibility for semen quality. METHODS A retrospective observational study was carried out on 1991 semen samples collected between November 23, 2019 and July 23, 2020 (a period covering COVID-19 lock-down in China) from 781 sperm donor candidates at University-affiliated Sichuan Provincial Human Sperm Bank. Multivariate mixed-effects regression models were constructed to investigate the relationship between pollution exposure, windows of susceptibility, and semen quality, while controlling for biographic and meteorologic confounders. RESULT(S) The results indicated multiple windows of susceptibility for semen quality, especially sperm motility, due to ambient pollution exposure. Exposure to particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10), O3 and NO2 during late stages of spermatogenesis appeared to have weak but positive association with semen quality. Exposure to CO late in sperm development appeared to have inverse relationship with sperm movement parameters. Exposure to SO2 appeared to influence semen quality throughout spermatogenesis. CONCLUSION(S) Potential windows of susceptibility for semen quality varied depending on air pollutants. Sperm motility was sensitive to pollution exposure. Findings from current study further elucidate the importance of sensitive periods during spermatogenesis and provide new evidence for the determinants of male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yang
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Li Deng
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, PR China
| | - Boyu Sun
- Wuyuzhang Honors College, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Shifu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, PR China
| | - Yang Xian
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Yu Zhan
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, PR China
| | - Kehui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Johnathan J Buonocore
- Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA
| | - Ya Tang
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, PR China
| | - Fuping Li
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
| | - Yang Qiu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, PR China.
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Zhou L, Li L, Hao G, Li B, Yang S, Wang N, Liang J, Sun H, Ma S, Yan L, Zhao C, Wei Y, Niu Y, Zhang R. Sperm mtDNA copy number, telomere length, and seminal spermatogenic cells in relation to ambient air pollution: Results of a cross-sectional study in Jing-Jin-Ji region of China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 406:124308. [PMID: 33257117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Evidences on the association of air pollutants and semen quality were limited and mechanism-based biomarkers were sparse. We enrolled 423 men at a fertility clinic in Shijiazhuang, China to evaluate associations between air pollutants and semen quality parameters including the conventional ones, sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), sperm telomere length (STL) and seminal spermatogenic cells. PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, NO2 and O3 exposure during lag0-90, lag0-9, lag10-14 and lag70-90 days were evaluated with ordinary Kringing model. The exposure-response correlations were analyzed with multiple linear regression models. CO, PM2.5 and PM10 were adversely associated with conventional semen parameters including sperm count, motility and morphology. Besides, CO was positively associated with seminal primary spermatocyte (lag70-90, 0.49; 0.14, 0.85) and mtDNAcn (lag0-90, 0.37; 0.12, 0.62, lag10-14, 0.31; 0.12, 0.49), negatively associated with STL (lag0-9, -0.30; -0.57, -0.03). PM2.5 was positively associated with mtDNAcn (0.50; 0.24, 0.75 and 0.38; 0.02, 0.75 for lag0-90 and lag70-90) while negatively associated with STL (lag70-90, -0.49; -0.96, -0.01). PM10 and NO2 were positively associated with mtDNAcn. Our findings indicate CO and PM might impair semen quality testicularly and post-testicularly while seminal spermatogenic cell, STL and mtDNAcn change indicate necessity for more attention on these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixiao Zhou
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Lipeng Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Guimin Hao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Binghua Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Sujuan Yang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Jiaming Liang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Hongyue Sun
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Shitao Ma
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Lina Yan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Chunfang Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Schoolof Basic Medical Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yanjing Wei
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Basic Medical Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yujie Niu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China.
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Chen YA, Chang YK, Su YR, Chang HC. Ambient sulfur dioxide could have an impact on testicular volume from a observational study on a population of infertile male. BMC Urol 2020; 20:149. [PMID: 33008439 PMCID: PMC7530959 DOI: 10.1186/s12894-020-00710-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The effect of ambient pollutants on the male reproductive system is controversial. This retrospective study investigated the effect of environmental pollutants on male reproductive health. Methods Male patients with primary infertility (n = 282) were identified from a single center between January 2016 and December 2017. Patients were physically examined for the presence of varicocele and for the volume of both testicles. Semen quality was measured in terms of the total sperm count, sperm concentration, and the percentage of sperm cells with motility and normal morphology. Data were acquired on the concentration of ambient pollutants, namely particulate matters of diameter < 2.5 μm, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ozone (O3), measured on daily and hourly basis, from the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan, Taiwan. Individual exposure to pollutants was estimated based on the reported residential address of each participant. Statistical analysis indicated the effect of each pollutant on the testicular volume, sex hormone profile, and semen parameters. Results The mean ± standard deviation of age was 36.7 ± 7.3 years. The average sperm count and concentration were 41.9 million/mL and 34.1 million/mL, respectively. The mean levels of serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were 3.57 ± 1.68 ng/mL, 7.59 ± 6.3 IU/L, and 4.68 ± 3.49 IU/L, respectively. According to the multivariate linear regression model, NOx exposure was a risk factor for decreased sperm concentration and motility (p = 0.043 and 0.032). Furthermore, SO2 exposure was negatively associated and testicular volume (p < 0.01). Conclusions NO2 and SO2 exposure were negatively associated with the seminal parameter and decreased testicular volume, respectively, in a population of men with infertility. However, additional prospective studies are needed to ascertain the cause–effect relation of current results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-An Chen
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No.1, Changde St., Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City, 10048, Taiwan.,Department of Urology, Cardinal Tien Hospital, School of Medicine Fu-Jen Catholic University, No.362, Zhongzheng Rd., Xindian Dist, New Taipei City, 231, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Kai Chang
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No.1, Changde St., Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City, 10048, Taiwan
| | - Yann-Rong Su
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, NO.25, Lane 442, Sec.1, Jingguo Rd, Hsinchu City, 300, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Chiang Chang
- Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No.1, Changde St., Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City, 10048, Taiwan.
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Sun S, Zhao J, Cao W, Lu W, Zheng T, Zeng Q. Identifying critical exposure windows for ambient air pollution and semen quality in Chinese men. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 189:109894. [PMID: 32678738 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Emerging studies documented the association between ambient air pollution exposure and semen quality, but the critical exposure windows have not been comprehensively studied. To identify susceptible windows for associations of exposure to ambient respirable particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3) with sperm concentration, sperm count, total motility, and progressive motility, we recruited 1061 men attending an infertility clinic in Wuhan, China, between 2011 and 2013. We used a distributed lag multivariate linear regression to assess the exposure-lag-response relationship between semen quality and weekly air pollution exposure. The critical exposure windows were during the 6th to 12th sperm development weeks for PM10, 10th to 11th weeks for O3, and 0 to 5th weeks for SO2. Over the entire 12 weeks of spermatogenesis period, an interquartile range increase (IQR) increase in PM10 was associated with declined sperm concentration [-45.64% (95% CI: -59.97%, -26.18%) percent decrease], declined sperm count [-49.42% (95% CI: -64.42%, -28.09%) percent decrease], reduced total motility [-12.42 (95% CI: -20.47, -4.37)], and reduced progressive motility [-8.81 (95% CI: -16.00, -1.61)], SO2 per IQR increase was associated with reduced sperm concentration [-39.73% (95% CI: -55.96%, -17.51%) percent decrease] and total motility [-8.64 (95% CI: -16.90, -0.38)], but NO2 and O3 were not associated with any of the four sperm quality parameters. Our findings suggest that exposure to PM10 during spermatidogenesis period, exposure to SO2 during spermatocytogenesis period, and exposure to O3 during spermiogenesis period were associated with impaired semen quality, which implies air pollutants impair semen quality through varied pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengzhi Sun
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jinzhu Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, PR China
| | - Wangnan Cao
- Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Wenqing Lu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Tongzhang Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, 02906, USA
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, 02906, USA.
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Wang X, Cai J, Liu L, Jiang X, Li P, Sha A, Ren J. Association between outdoor air pollution during in vitro culture and the outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Hum Reprod 2020; 34:441-451. [PMID: 30689907 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does outdoor air pollution differentially affect the outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) and fresh transfer in IVF treatment? SUMMARY ANSWER Increased SO2 and O3 levels at the site of IVF unit were significantly associated with lower live birth rates following FET but did not affect the contemporary fresh transfer outcomes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Ambient air pollution has been associated with human infertility and IVF outcomes. However, most of the studies excluded FET cycles. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A retrospective cohort study of 11148 patients contributing to 16290 transfer cycles between January 2013 and December 2016 was carried out. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The average age of the cohort was 31.51 ± 4.48 years and the average BMI was 21.14 ± 2.37 kg/cm2. Inverse distance weighting interpolation was used to estimate the daily ambient exposures to six pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, O3) at an IVF clinical site, according to the data from fixed air quality monitoring stations in the city. The exposures of each cycle were presented as average daily concentrations of pollutants from oocyte retrieval to embryo transfer/cryopreservation. Exposures were analyzed in quartiles. A generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate the association between pollutants and IVF outcomes, adjusted for important confounding factors including maternal age, infertility diagnosis, BMI, endometrial status and embryo transfer policy. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate of the cycles was 55.1% (8981/16290) and 47.1% (7672/16290), respectively. Among the included cycles, 4013 patients received 5299 FET cycles, resulting in 2263 live births (42.7% per ET), whereas 9553 patients received 10991 fresh transfer cycles, resulting in 5409 live births (49.2% per ET). SO2 and O3 levels were significantly associated with live birth rates in FET cycles, whereas none of the pollutants were significantly associated with IVF outcomes in contemporary fresh transfer cycles. The FET cycles in the highest quartile of SO2 and O3 exposure had significantly lower live birth rates (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.63, 95%CI 0.53-0.74; 0.69, 95% CI 0.58-0.82, respectively) in comparison with those in the lowest quartile. Models involving all transfer cycles and interaction terms (FET×exposures) suggested that FET significantly enhanced the effects of SO2 and O3 exposure on IVF outcomes (P < 0.001). Multi-pollutant models gave consistent results for the association between SO2 and live birth in FET cycles. Accounting for all six pollutants, women in the highest quartile of SO2 still had the lowest live birth rates (OR 0.61, 95%CI 0.47-0.80). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The study was limited by its retrospective nature. The exposure data were estimated according to monitoring data rather than measured directly from the IVF unit. Unknown confounding factors may skew the results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our data implied that embryos undergoing FET may be more vulnerable to a suboptimal environment than those undergoing fresh transfer. In heavily polluted sites or seasons, fluctuation in FET outcomes may be partially explained by the dynamic changes of ambient gaseous air pollutant. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) National Natural Science Foundation (81302454). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinli Wang
- College of the Environment and Ecology Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jiali Cai
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.,Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Lanlan Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.,Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoming Jiang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ping Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Aiguo Sha
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jianzhi Ren
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution on Human Semen Quality: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:7528901. [PMID: 32420369 PMCID: PMC7204269 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7528901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Several studies have explored the association between outdoor air pollution and semen quality. However, the results were inconsistent. We performed the current meta-analysis to evaluate the role of outdoor air pollution in semen quality. Material and Methods. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify relevant studies. Relative data in participants under higher exposure and lower exposure to air pollution were extracted. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to assess the effects of outdoor air pollution on semen quality. In addition, trial sequential analyses (TSAs) were performed to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of analyses. Results A total of 11 studies with 4562 males were enrolled in the current meta-analysis. Higher air pollution levels were associated with significant decreases in semen volume (WMD: -0.16, 95% CI: -0.27 to -0.05), sperm concentration (WMD: -5.52, 95% CI: -9.88 to -1.16), progressive motility (WMD: -6.23, 95% CI: -11.64 to -0.81), total motility (WMD: -7.65, 95% CI: -14.09 to -1.20), and normal sperm morphology rate (WMD: -3.71, 95% CI: -5.59 to -1.82). In addition, the DNA fragmentation index significantly increased (WMD: 4.11, 95% CI: 1.94 to 6.29). Conclusions Air pollution is associated with decreased semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology rate.
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Wang X, Tian X, Ye B, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Huang S, Li C, Wu S, Li R, Zou Y, Liao J, Yang J, Ma L. The association between ambient temperature and sperm quality in Wuhan, China. Environ Health 2020; 19:44. [PMID: 32345302 PMCID: PMC7189467 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00595-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few epidemiological investigations have focused on the influence of environmental temperature on human sperm quality. Here, we evaluated the potential association between ambient temperature and human sperm quality in Wuhan, China, and examined the interactive effect of particulate matter (PM2.5) and temperature. METHODS 1780 males who had been living in Wuhan for no less than three months and received semen analysis at the Department of Reproductive Medicine in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between April 8, 2013 and June 30, 2015 were recruited. Daily mean meteorological data and air pollution data (PM2.5, O3 and NO2) in Wuhan between 2013 and 2015 were collected. A generalized linear model was used to explore the associations between ambient temperature and sperm quality (including sperm concentration, percentage of normal sperm morphology, and progressive motility) at 0-9, 10-14, 15-69, 70-90, and 0-90 days before semen examination, and the interaction between temperature and PM2.5. RESULTS The associations between ambient temperature and sperm quality were an inverted U-shape at five exposure windows, except for a lag of 0-9 days for sperm concentration. A 1 °C increase in ambient temperature above the thresholds was associated with a 2.038 (1.292 ~ 2.783), 1.814 (1.217 ~ 2.411), 1.458 (1.138 ~ 1.777), 0.934(0.617 ~ 1.251) and 1.604 (1.258 ~ 1.951) decrease in the percentage of normal sperm morphology at lag 0-9, lag 10-14, lag 15-69, lag 70-90, and lag 0-90 days, respectively. The interaction p-values of PM2.5 and temperature were mostly less than 0.05 at five exposure windows. When ambient temperature exposure levels were above the thresholds, a 0.979 (0.659-1.299) and 3.559 (0.251 ~ 6.867) decrease in percentage of normal sperm morphology per 1 °C increase in temperature at lag 0-90 days was observed in the PM2.5 ≤ P50 group and PM2.5 > P50 group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that exposure to ambient temperature has a threshold effect on sperm quality, and PM2.5 enhances the effect of temperature on sperm quality when temperatures are above the threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Zhangzhidong Road (formerly Ziyang Road), Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060 China
| | - Xiaojia Tian
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071 China
| | - Bo Ye
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071 China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Zhangzhidong Road (formerly Ziyang Road), Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060 China
| | - Xiaotong Zhang
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071 China
| | - Shichun Huang
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071 China
| | - Cunlu Li
- Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention of the Lianyungang Economic and Technological Development Area, No.28 Tianshan Road, Lianyun District, Lianyungang, 222000 China
| | - Simin Wu
- General Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, General Practice & Primary Care, House 2 Room 303, 1 Horselethill Road, Glasgow, G12 9LX UK
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071 China
- Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 8 Donghunan Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Yuliang Zou
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071 China
- Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 8 Donghunan Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Jingling Liao
- Department of Public Health, Medical College Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Huangjiahuxi Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430065 China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Zhangzhidong Road (formerly Ziyang Road), Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060 China
| | - Lu Ma
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071 China
- Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 8 Donghunan Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430072 China
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Guan Q, Chen S, Wang B, Dou X, Lu Y, Liang J, Ni R, Yang C, Wang H, Baktash MB, Wu W, Wang X, Fu G, Xia Y. Effects of particulate matter exposure on semen quality: A retrospective cohort study. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 193:110319. [PMID: 32087444 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Particulate matter (PM) exposure is closely associated with male infertility. Even though an association between poor semen quality and PM exposure has been widely accepted, which and when the semen parameter could be affected are still controversial. The purpose of this study is to estimate the effects of PM exposure on semen quality in Huai'an, China. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS The study included 1955 men with 2073 semen samples between 2015 and 2017 with moderate to high exposure to air pollution in Huai'an, China. Three multivariable linear regression models were used to conduct exposure-response analyses for PM exposure and semen quality and to estimate the influence during different exposure periods by every 15 days period before ejaculation in all participants group and normal semen quality participants group. RESULTS The average age of the observations was 28.9 ± 5.4 old years and the average abstinence period was 4.2 ± 1.5 days. The results showed high correlations between both PM2.5 and PM10 exposures throughout entire spermatogenesis and the declines of sperm count (β: -0.93, p < 2 × 10-16 and β: -1.00, p < 2 × 10-16), and sperm concentration (β: -1.00, p < 2 × 10-16 and β: -1.06, p < 2 × 10-16), and PM10 exposure decreased sperm total motility (β: -0.60, p = 2.56 × 10-7), but not sperm progressive motility. Furthermore, PM2.5 exposure decreased sperm count and concentration during 15-75 lag days, and PM10 exposure showed significant association with sperm count and concentration during 0-75 lag days. PM2.5 and PM10 exposures during 45-59 lag days were both inversely associated with sperm total motility (all p value < 0.05). CONCLUSION The present study revealed that ambient PM exposure throughout spermatogenesis during a long period, especially at early and middle stage were adversely associated with semen quality, sperm count and sperm concentration in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Shiyao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Bingqian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiaoyu Dou
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 1 West Huanghe Road, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China
| | - Yuemei Lu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 1 West Huanghe Road, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China
| | - Jian Liang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 1 West Huanghe Road, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China
| | - Rong Ni
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 1 West Huanghe Road, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 1 West Huanghe Road, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China
| | - Hengbing Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 1 West Huanghe Road, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China
| | - Mohammad Basir Baktash
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xinru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Guangbo Fu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 1 West Huanghe Road, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China.
| | - Yankai Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Road, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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Zhang G, Jiang F, Chen Q, Yang H, Zhou N, Sun L, Zou P, Yang W, Cao J, Zhou Z, Ao L. Associations of ambient air pollutant exposure with seminal plasma MDA, sperm mtDNA copy number, and mtDNA integrity. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105483. [PMID: 31999972 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current available evidence regarding the detrimental effects of low-level ambient air pollution on conventional semen parameters is inconclusive. In nonreproductive systems, air pollutant exposure has been demonstrated to induce oxidative stress (OS), which is a crucial mechanism that mediates sperm damage and male infertility. Thus, it may be essential to investigate the effects of air pollution on sperm quality in terms of the perspectives of OS and relative molecular damage. OBJECTIVES We assessed the associations of major air pollutant exposure to oxidative stress-mediated alterations in semen, including seminal plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), sperm mtDNA copy number, and integrity. METHODS The present study used data gathered from 516 young men participating in the Male Reproductive Health in Chongqing College student (MARCHS) cohort study during the follow-up stage in 2014 (n = 427 on the old campus, which is located in an urban area and has worse air quality, and n = 89 on the new campus, which is not urban and has better air quality). Data regarding major air pollutant exposure during 0-90, 0-9, 10-14 and 70-90 days before each semen examination (corresponding to the entire and three key periods of sperm development, respectively) were collected. The Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test was employed to compare distributions of major air pollutants and to explore differences in MDA, mtDNA copy number, and mtDNA integrity between the two campuses. A linear regression model was used as multivariable analysis to investigate associations of major air pollutant exposure with these biomarkers of oxidative damage to sperm and to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS During all four key periods of sperm development, compared with college students on the new campus, college students on the old campus were exposed to higher levels of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and CO, and had higher air quality index (AQI) values, indicating that these participants suffered from worse air quality. The levels of seminal plasma MDA in college students on the old campus were higher than those for the new campus (2.0 nmol/ml; 0.7, 3.6 vs. 1.6 nmol/ml; 0.4, 3.4, p < 0.001) (medians with 5th and 95th percentiles). There were no significant differences in sperm mtDNA copy number and mtDNA integrity between the two campuses. Furthermore, daily average PM10 exposure during 0-90 days before semen ejaculation was found to be significantly and positively associated with seminal plasma MDA level (10.4; 95% CI, 4.4, 16.4) (percentage change per 10-unit increase in air pollutant concentration; same meanings for the results below); daily average SO2 exposure for 70-90 days and NO2 exposure for 0-9 days prior to sampling were also positively associated with MDA level (74.7; 95% CI, 32.1, 119 and 11.9; 95% CI, 4.8, 19.0, respectively). AQI for 0-90 days and 70-90 days prior to sampling positively correlated with seminal plasma MDA concentrations (11.4; 95% CI, 4.7, 18.1 and 12.2; 95% CI, 5.3, 19.1, respectively). Additionally, daily average SO2 exposures for 10-14 and 0-9 days prior to sampling were negatively associated with sperm mtDNA copy number and mtDNA integrity, respectively (-9.0; 95% CI, -16.4, -1.6 and -38.3; 95% CI, -64.1, -11.8, respectively). However, only the correlations between SO2 exposure and AQI value for 70-90 days prior to sampling and MDA levels remained significant after multiplicity adjustment. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that bad air quality, especially SO2 exposure during certain periods of sperm development, might be correlated with oxidative damage to sperm. These findings can deepen the understanding of the potential impacts of air pollution on sperm quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guowei Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fan Jiang
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Niya Zhou
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Zou
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wang Yang
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia Cao
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziyuan Zhou
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Lin Ao
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Zhang K, Jiang W, Zhang S, Xu Y, Liu W. The impact of differentiated technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises on the local emissions of environmental pollutants in Anhui province, China, from 2012 to 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:27953-27970. [PMID: 31350692 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06032-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The study was designed to evaluate the impact of differentiated technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises on the local emissions of environmental pollutants in Anhui province, China, during the period of 2012-2016. The econometric models of DEA and SEM-PLS and Malmquist index are used to explore the potential impacts of differentiated technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises on the local emissions of environmental pollutants in Anhui province. After an initial analysis of SEM-PLS model, the models of DEA and Malmquist index are used to evaluate the differentiated degrees and dynamic development levels of local technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises in different regions of Anhui province. With these analyses, the study presents three main results as follows. There is a positive correlation between the technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises and the technological performance levels of environmental disposal. Meanwhile, there is a large gap among the environmental disposing performances of industrial enterprises in different regions of Anhui province. There is also a large gap between the expected and actual technological performances of industrial enterprises' environmental disposal, according to the results of SEM-PLS analysis. Furthermore, there are several obvious characteristics of geographical distribution in the impact of differentiated technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises on local environmental pollutant emissions observed from the results of the DEA and Malmquist index models. However, it is not consistent with the overall provincial development trend and regional distribution pattern of industrial economics in Anhui province over the period of 2012-2016. Under the rapid development of social economics and modern technological advance, there is a weak impact of differentiated technological innovation efficiency on the technological performance of industrial environmental disposal in different regions of Anhui province. Meanwhile, the environmental disposal capacity of enterprises' technological innovation become declining too. Finally, some countermeasures and policy suggestions are put forward based on the investigation and comprehensive analyses of the DEA and SEM-PLS and Malmquist index models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerong Zhang
- Department of Enterprise Management, School of Business, Fuyang Normal University, Qing He West Road No. 100, Fuyang, 236037, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wulin Jiang
- Department of Enterprise Management, School of Business, Fuyang Normal University, Qing He West Road No. 100, Fuyang, 236037, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of Enterprise Management, School of Business, Fuyang Normal University, Qing He West Road No. 100, Fuyang, 236037, People's Republic of China
| | - Yasong Xu
- Department of Enterprise Management, School of Business, Fuyang Normal University, Qing He West Road No. 100, Fuyang, 236037, People's Republic of China
| | - Wuyi Liu
- Department of Science and Technology, Fuyang Normal University, Qing He West Road No. 100, Fuyang, 236037, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Biology Sciences, Biological and Food Engineering Faculty, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang city, China.
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Ji PY, Li ZY, Wang H, Dong JT, Li XJ, Yi HL. Arsenic and sulfur dioxide co-exposure induce renal injury via activation of the NF-κB and caspase signaling pathway. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 224:280-288. [PMID: 30825854 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although emerging evidence suggests positive association of arsenic (As) or sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure with human diseases, reports concerning the effects of co-exposure of As and SO2 are lacking. Moreover, there is insufficient information in the literature about As and SO2 co-exposure to renal injury. In this study, we focus on the environmental problems of excessive As and SO2 that co-exist in many coal consumption areas. We used both C57BL/6 mice and 293T cells to detect toxicities of As and SO2 exposure alone or in combination. Our results showed that co-exposure significantly increased the hazard compared with exposure to As or SO2 alone. Mouse kidney tissue slices showed that co-exposure caused more severe diffuse sclerosing glomerulonephritis than As and SO2 exposure alone. Meanwhile experiments showed that apoptosis was aggravated by co-exposure of As and SO2 in 293T cells. Because As and SO2 cause cell toxicity through increasing oxidative stress, next we detected ROS and other oxidative stress parameters, and the results showed oxidative stress was increased by co-exposure compared with the other three groups. The expression levels of downstream genes in the NF-κB and caspase pathways were higher in the co-exposure group than in the groups of As or SO2 exposure alone in mice and 293T cells. Based on the above results, co-exposure could induce higher toxicity in vitro and in vivo compared with single exposure to As or SO2, indicating that people living in places that contaminated by As and SO2 may have higher chance to get renal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Yu Ji
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; College of Environmental and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhuo-Yu Li
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hong Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jin-Tang Dong
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Emory University Winship Cancer Insititute, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xiu-Juan Li
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; College of Environmental and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hui-Lan Yi
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
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Zhang J, Cai Z, Yang B, Li H. Association between outdoor air pollution and semen quality: Protocol for an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e15730. [PMID: 31096531 PMCID: PMC6531133 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000015730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various studies have explored the association between outdoor air pollution and semen quality. However, the results were still controversial. The object of the current meta-analysis is to evaluate the role of outdoor air pollution in semen quality. METHODS Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase will be searched to identify qualified studies. All qualified cross-sectional studies researching the association between outdoor air pollution and sperm parameters will be included. Relative data in participants under higher exposure and lower exposure to air pollution will be extracted by 2 investigators independently. Only participants under the highest and the lowest exposure will be enrolled if the original study contained more than 2 exposure levels. The semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, total motility, and normal morphology rate will be the primary outcomes of the current study. Pooled estimates with corresponding 95% confidence intervals will be calculated to assess the specific effects of outdoor air pollution in semen quality. Moreover, trial sequential analyses will be performed to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of analyses. RESULTS A high-quality synthesis of the current evidence for the association between sperm parameters and outdoor air pollution will be provided. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis and systematic review will generate evidence for judging whether outdoor air pollution can impair semen quality. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO CRD 42019126060.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Zhang
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
| | - Zhonglin Cai
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
| | - Bin Yang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
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Yao Y, He C, Li S, Ma W, Li S, Yu Q, Mi N, Yu J, Wang W, Yin L, Zhang Y. Properties of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants in Shandong, China: Daily fluctuation, influencing factors, and spatiotemporal distribution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 660:384-394. [PMID: 30640107 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Characteristics of the spatial and temporal distribution of air pollutants may reveal the cause of air pollution, especially for large regions where the anthropogenic pollutant emission is concentrated. This study addresses this issue by focusing on Shandong province, which has the highest air pollutant emissions in China. First, the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of the observed concentrations of conventional pollutants are analyzed in detail. The most prominent indicator of the problem (PM2.5), was selected as the key analytical object. On the spatial scale, the Multivariate Moran model was used to identify factors affecting the spatial distribution of PM2.5. On the time scale, wavelet analysis was used to explore the fluctuation characteristics of PM2.5 at different time periods. Results show that there are significant regional differences in pollutant concentration within Shandong province. The concentration of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants in western and northern Shandong is significantly higher than eastern Shandong. The average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and NO2 were highest in winter and lowest in summer, whereas concentration of O3 peaked in summer. For PM2.5, the annual mean concentration has a significant spatial correlation with SO2 emission, GDP per capita, population density and energy consumption per unit of GDP; in addition, the correlation between different regions and various indices is different. On the time scale, the fluctuation energy of PM2.5 concentrated in Dezhou and Liaocheng is the strongest on December 18 and 19, 2015. The inversion temperature has a strong influence on the daily variation of PM2.5 concentration. The formation and evolution of atmospheric pollution, therefore, can be explored by combining the temporal and spatial distribution of pollutants, providing a comprehensive analytical method for atmospheric pollution in different regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youru Yao
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241003, China
| | - Cheng He
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China.
| | - Shiyin Li
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Weichun Ma
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Na Mi
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jia Yu
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Li Yin
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
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