With air pollution gradually taking center-stage as the primary health concern at present, many studies have put forward its various negative impacts.A new study has now revealed that men exposed to fine particle air pollution may risk having smaller, abnormally-shaped sperm. PM 2.5 is the term used for air pollution containing the smallest of particles, those measuring 2.5 microns in diameter or less.
A micron is a millionth of a meter. Warning that this "may result in a significant number of couples with infertility", the study that analysed 2001-2014 data for more than 6,400 Taiwanese men and boys aged 15 to 49, found "a robust association" between a decline in "normal" sperm and exposure to PM 2.5 pollution.The link was observed for short-term exposure of three months, as well as for long-term exposure of two years, according to study results published in the medical journal…
