A new study has found that air pollution increases the risk of infertility in men, while noise pollution may increase the risk of infertility in women. The study has been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and shows that long-term exposure to road traffic noise and air pollution (particularly PM2.5) may increase the risk of infertility in men and women. Is. The study used data from 526,056 men and 377,850 women aged 30 to 45 who lived in Denmark from 2000 to 2017 and who were trying to conceive.
Effect of air pollution and noise pollution
This study evaluates the effects of a particular form of air pollution, PM2.5, and road traffic noise. PM2.5 is a type of pollutant that is present in the air in the form of microscopic particles and which is harmful for the respiratory system. The study found that if men were exposed to an average of 2.9 micrograms per cubic meter more of PM2.5 pollution for five years, their risk of infertility increased by 24%. However, no clear association was found with PM2.5 pollution in women.
Effect of noise pollution on women
At the same time, the impact of road traffic noise was seen more on women. The study found that if women were exposed to an average of 10.2 decibels more noise pollution for five years, the risk of infertility in women over the age of 35 increased by 14%. However, no association was found between noise pollution and infertility in women aged 30 to 35 years. Additionally, for men between 37 and 45 years of age, road traffic noise slightly increased the risk of infertility, but had no effect for men between 30 to 37 years of age.
Conclusions and potential implications
The findings of this study make it clear that air pollution and noise pollution can have a profound impact on infertility in men and women, especially if a person is exposed to these pollutants for a long period of time. Several previous studies have found a negative association between particulate air pollution and sperm quality, but the results were inconsistent, the researchers said.
Concern over increasing cases of infertility
According to studies, almost half of the couples trying to conceive are facing infertility. In such a situation, to increase the birth rate, it has become necessary to understand and control the effects of air and noise pollution.