A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has revealed that air pollution negatively impacts men's fertility. American researchers concluded that polluted air adversely affects sperm quality in men, marking the latest discovery regarding the implications of air pollution on human health. Previous scientific research indicated that air pollution increases the risk of certain disorders, ranging from obesity to diabetes.
The new findings emerged from a study in which researchers demonstrated that air pollution reduced sperm counts in mice by inducing inflammation in the brain. The lead researcher, Zikang Ying, stated, "The results we obtained show that the damage caused by air pollution leads, at the very least, to a decrease in sperm counts, and it can be treated by removing inflammation in the brains of mice." He added that this suggests scientists could develop treatments that could minimize this risk or entirely address it.
This new study is part of ongoing scientific efforts to understand the reasons behind the decline in sperm counts in men in recent years, according to Sky News Arabia. The study indicated that around 92% of the world's population lives in areas where the level of fine particulate matter in the air, with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, exceeds the minimum safety standards set by the World Health Organization.
Air pollution can stem from car exhaust, factory emissions, wildfires, and more. During the study, researchers tested two groups of mice, one exposed to polluted air and the other not. They later examined the sperm of these animals and found that the sperm counts were lower in those exposed to polluted air, along with evidence of brain inflammation.
The implications of this study extend beyond fertility alone, as various health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, can arise from brain inflammation due to air pollution.
