Air pollution harms sperm, research suggests Polish – Onet.pl

 
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  Air pollution harms sperm, Polish studies indicate
 
 
 

Scientists are not sure what exactly a mechanism could be responsible for it. – We suspect that air pollution increase the amount of free radicals in the body, which induce the so-called. oxidative stress, which may reduce the function of the testicles and damage the mature sperm, including their genetic material – said study co-author Dr. Joanna Yurevich from the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IMP) in Lodz.

In addition, certain air pollutants, especially particulates suspended particles move hormonally active compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds interfere with the body’s secretion of hormones, including testosterone, which regulates the process of spermatogenesis.

The study in which took part also specialists from the hospital, “gamete” in Rzgow and the National Research Institute Balice near Krakow, the researchers analyzed data from 327 young men (mean age 32 years) who were taken to a fertility clinic to diagnose the cause of problems with conceiving a child . These samples were collected from semen, saliva, urine and blood.

With a database maintained by the European Environment Agency ( EEA) obtained data on air quality and concentrations of various pollutants in residence men. Researchers have focused on the level of suspended particles (having a diameter of 10 microns – PM10, and having a diameter less), sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen during the 90 days prior to sampling (for spermatogenesis, namely the production of new sperm, it takes an average of 74 days) . The survey results were published in the journal “Annals of Human Biology” in July 2015.

In the analysis, : You have had various diseases which may affect the quality of sperm, like mumps, cryptorchidism, trauma or surgery to the testicles, smoking cigarettes (based on the presence of saliva metabolite of nicotine), other elements of lifestyle and factors affecting women in the workplace.

we found that men who were exposed in the place of residence to a higher level all the analyzed pollutants have a higher percentage of sperm the abnormal changes in construction. In turn, higher concentrations of suspended particulates, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides was associated with lower levels of testosterone. There were no relationship between the level of pollution and sperm motility and, with.

In the second paper, the results published in July 2014. magazine “Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis”, the same team of researchers has demonstrated a link between higher levels of airborne particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), and a higher incidence of sperm with abnormally duplicated genetic material. It was about the existence of two (so called. Disomy), instead of one copy of the Y sex chromosome or chromosome 21. In men smoking, but exposed to more air pollution was found five times higher incidence of Y chromosome disomy.

As noted in an interview with PAP leader of the team of scientists prof. Wojciech Hanke from the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IMP) in Lodz, where the sperm with the wrong number of chromosomes fertilizes an egg cell is in a child reaches developmental disorders (eg. The presence of three chromosomes 21 leads to Down’s syndrome). The specialist noted, however, that the sperm with the wrong number of chromosomes (called. Aneuploidy) fortunately rare win in the race to fertilization. Besides, in most cases fetuses with these disorders do not survive.

– It must be emphasized that in our study we have not tested whether changes in the sperm or testosterone levels translate into a reduction in male fertility. To do this, you need to plan another study – said prof. Hanke. He noted that all men were correct, according to the WHO standards, the concentration of sperm – from 15 to 300 million per 1 ml of ejaculate.

The problem, however, is that the average concentration of sperm in the semen of men continues to decrease. This meant that in 2010. WHO dropped lower standard to 15 million per ml, while a decade ago it amounted to 20 million per ml. In such a situation, any additional disturbance on the male reproductive cells are gaining in importance.

– depending on observation alone does not mean that it is the impurities present in the air residence men may lead to changes in the sperm morphology or in the concentration of testosterone. However, the existence of this correlation confirms the need to take action to quality of the air we breathe – summed up Professor. Hanke.

A large air pollution in many regions of the Polish and of its negative impact on human health is said to be recently more and more rare but stresses that affect it are also individual decisions taken by each of us, eg. as to what we smoke in your own home. To raise awareness in this area the Ministry of Environment has launched a social campaign “We create atmosphere” which educates about air pollution in the country, its sources and health effects, and also about the way in which they can contribute to improving air quality in the shelf.

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