Polluted air may damage sperm DNA, large study shows

A significant study suggests that breathing polluted air could alter gene function within sperm, potentially impacting male fertility. Researchers identified 39 epigenetic changes in sperm DNA that were associated with exposure to various pollutants.

The study, presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual congress in London, involved over 2,000 men from Salt Lake City who provided semen samples between 2013 and 2017. Scientists assessed their exposure to outdoor pollutants in the three months prior to sample collection, a critical period for sperm development.

Ozone and nitrogen dioxide emerged as the pollutants most strongly linked to these epigenetic changes. These modifications involve DNA methylation, where chemical tags are attached to DNA, regulating whether genes are turned on or off without altering the genetic code itself. Such changes can affect sperm quality and potentially influence embryo development.

While the study highlights a possible biological pathway, researchers caution that the results do not yet prove a direct impact on fertility. Further investigations are required to confirm this link. However, the findings contribute to a growing body of evidence suggesting that air pollution may adversely affect male reproductive health.

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The study suggests a possible biological mechanism for how air pollution impacts male reproductive health, though further research is needed to confirm a direct effect on fertility.