A comprehensive new study from Denmark has revealed that men exposed to air pollution over an average period of five years face a heightened risk of infertility. This research, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), adds to the growing evidence concerning the adverse effects of fine particulate matter on reproductive health.
The nationwide study also uncovered a previously unrecognized connection between noise pollution and infertility in women aged 35 to 45. Additionally, a weak association was identified between noise pollution and infertility in men aged 37 to 45. The study was designed to include a substantial number of individuals actively trying to conceive, encompassing over 377,000 women and 526,000 men.
Out of this population, approximately 16,000 men and 22,600 women were diagnosed with infertility. The researchers excluded individuals with prior infertility diagnoses or those who had undergone procedures to prevent childbirth.
Importantly, the findings showed consistent links between different types of pollution and increased infertility risk across various socioeconomic groups and residential areas, including suburban, urban, and rural locations.
“As many Western nations grapple with declining birth rates and older maternal age at first childbirth, understanding the effects of environmental pollutants on fertility is essential,” the study authors stated.
However, Alison Campbell, chief scientific officer at Care Fertility and honorary professor at the University of Kent, noted that while the research is commendable, it relied on certain estimations, such as traffic noise and pollution levels, and could not account for environmental exposures outside the home, including workplace factors.
Campbell, who was not involved in the study, emphasized that while noise has not been extensively studied in relation to fertility, there is evidence suggesting that noise-induced stress and sleep disturbances could adversely affect reproductive health.
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