Semen quality and air pollution

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Abstract:

To examine potential relationships between semen quality and environmental exposure to high levels of air pollution in the Czech Republic, semen quality was evaluated in young (18 yr old) men living in either of two districts: Teplice, a heavily industrialized (I) district or Prachatice, an agricultural (A) district. Air monitoring data for SO2 and fine particle mass showed that air pollution was significantly higher in I than A, particularly during the winter months. District and season effects were examined by obtaining samples either in the early spring (S) after exposure to the highest pollution levels, or in the fall (F), after the relatively cleaner summer months. Each man was interviewed using a standard questionnaire, and given a physical examination before providing a single semen sample. Multiple measures of semen quality included standard semen analysis (WHO 1992), computer aided sperm motion analysis (CASA), and a sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) based on acridine orange staining of acid denatured sperm nuclei. Here we report results from 325 men examined over a two year period: n = 110 (IS), 76 (AS), 80 (IF) and 59 (AF). Comparisons of group means by 2-way ANOVA and Wilcoxon rank-sum test revealed significant effects of district and season (with a district x season interaction) on the % sperm with normal morphology (mean +/- SD): IS = 14.8% +/- 6.1; AS = 20.8% +/- 8.7; IF = 31.3% +/- 4.6; AF = 21.0% +/- 11.4. Also, the % progressively motile sperm was significantly depressed in IS (29.6% +/- 16.5) as compared with IF (42.5% +/- 16.8) or AS (36.1% +/- 18.0). Chi square analysis of dichotomized endpoints (e.g., WHO cutoffs of less than 30% for morphology, less than 50% for motility) also showed S/F differences in I for both morphology and motility. In contrast, other semen measures including mean CASA velocities and SCSA were not significantly depressed in I or S. Thus preliminary analysis of these data indicates that extremely high levels of air pollution in I during the winter may produce adverse effects on semen quality. Inclusion of questionnaire and air quality data in the final analysis will facilitate interpretation of these results.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH):

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), May 17, 2001

Answers

Chi square analysis of dichotomized endpoints (e.g., WHO cutoffs of less than 30% for morphology, less than 50% for motility) also showed S/F differences in I for both morphology and motility.

I'm saving this for sleepless nights.

-- (Paracelsus@Pb.Au), May 17, 2001.


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