A significant new study from Denmark highlights the impact of environmental factors on fertility, revealing that prolonged exposure to air pollution is associated with a higher risk of infertility in men. Published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Wednesday, the nationwide research adds to growing evidence on the adverse effects of fine particulate matter on reproductive health.
The study also identifies a novel connection between noise pollution and infertility among women aged 35 to 45, a link not previously documented. Additionally, noise pollution was found to have a weaker association with infertility in men aged 37 to 45.
The research utilized data from all residents of Denmark and focused on individuals aged 30 to 45 who were either cohabiting or married with fewer than two children from 2000 to 2017. This cohort was specifically chosen to include a high proportion of people actively attempting to conceive, resulting in a study population of over 377,000 women and 526,000 men.
Within this group, approximately 16,000 men and 22,600 women were diagnosed with infertility. The findings underscore the potential reproductive risks associated with environmental pollutants, emphasizing the need for further research into how these factors might affect fertility.
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