The study looked at thousands of people trying to conceive (Picture: Getty)
Breathing in air pollution could increase the risk of male infertility by nearly 25%.
Long term exposure to pollution that comes from road traffic, building materials and other small particles that hang in the air, known as PM2.5, has been linked infertility rates in new research published in The BMJ has revealed.
The team of Danish scientists also revealed that road traffic noise pollution was linked to infertility in women over the age of 35.
The researchers looked at over 500,000 men and nearly 400,000 women aged between 30 and 45 with fewer than two children who were living in Denmark with a partner between 2000 and 2017.
They then calculated the yearly average PM2.5 concentration and road traffic noise level at the address of every participant between 1995 and 2017, and compared the data to the success of conception.
The participants chosen included a high proportion of people actively trying to conceive. People who already had an pre-existing infertility diagnosis were excluded, as well as those who had undergone surgery to prevent pregnancy or those who had been sterilised.
They found that exposure to PM2.5 at levels of 2.9 µg/m3 (a measurement which indicates the concentration of air pollutants) or higher across a five-year period was linked with a 24% increased infertility risk in men.
PM2.5 can come from road traffic, as can noise pollution (Picture: Getty)
However, PM2.5 was not associated with infertility in women.
Exposure to 10.2 decibels higher average levels of road traffic over five years was also linked with a 14% increased risk of infertility among women over 35 years, but not among younger women (30-35 years).
Noise pollution was linked to a ‘small’ rise in infertility in older men, who were aged between 37 to 45.
In the study, the researchers wrote: ‘Both stress and sleep disturbance have been suggested to be associated with impaired reproductive function, including reduced sperm count and quality, menstrual irregularity.’
The researcher’s findings were the same for participants who lived in both rural and urban areas, and happened regardless of the participant’s financial status.
It should be noted that this is an observational study, so it cannot directly say that pollution causes infertility. It also did not measure any fumes or noise that a person could be exposed to at work or if they exercise outside, such as going for a run.
However, the researchers said that if their findings can be replicated then it could help create strategies and policies to protect the population from noise and air pollution.
What is PM2.5?
PM2.5 are pollution particles that are smaller than 2.5 micrometres and can sit in the airway and deep in the lungs which can cause health problems
They are made up of tiny bits of solids or liquids that hang in the air
The particles can originate from road traffic, including carbon emissions from engines, small bits of metal and rubber from engine wear and braking as well as dust from road surfaces
They can also come from …read more
Source:: Metro
