Air pollution and decreased semen quality: a comparative study of Chongqing urban and rural areas.
To investigate the association and effects of air pollution level on male semen quality in urban and rural areas, this study examines the outdoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrous dioxide (NO2) and semen quality outcomes for 1346 volunteers in both urban and rural areas in Chongqing, China. We found the urban area has a higher pollution level than the rural area, contrasted with better semen quality in the rural residents, especially for sperm morphology and computer assistant semen analysis (CASA) motility parameters. A multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrates that concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 significantly and negatively are associated with normal sperm morphology percentage (P < 0.001) and sperm kinetic parameters. In conclusion, exposure to higher concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 in urban ambient air may account for worse semen quality in urban males.
Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China.
Niya
N
Zhou
Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China.
Zhihong
Z
Cui
Chongqing Environmental Science Research Institute, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Sanming
S
Yang
Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China.
Xue
X
Han
Chongqing Environmental Science Research Institute, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Gangcai
G
Chen
Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China; Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Ziyuan
Z
Zhou
Chongqing Environmental Science Research Institute, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Chongzhi
C
Zhai
Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Chongqing, People's Republic of China; Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Mingfu
M
Ma
Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Chongqing, People's Republic of China; Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Lianbing
L
Li
Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Min
M
Cai
Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Yafei
Y
Li
Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China.
Lin
L
Ao
Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Weiqun
W
Shu
Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: jinyiliutmmu@163.com.
Jinyi
J
Liu
Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: caojia1962@126.com.
Jia
J
Cao
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide
NO(2); PM(10); Regional variation; Rural area; SO(2); Semen quality; Urban area