Both maternal and paternal exposure to air pollution can have a negative impact on fertility, a study has shown.
The effect of air pollution on fertility and reproductive success is well established (see BioNews 1247 and 1252). Now, researchers at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, in collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology, have conducted a study showing a new approach to the known link between air pollution, fertilisation and embryo quality. They evaluated the independent association between maternal and paternal air pollution exposure during the times of egg and sperm production, concluding that both can negatively impact the development of the embryo in IVF cycles.
Dr Audrey Gaskins, who led the study at Emory University, said, 'The uniqueness of this model is that the exposures to the sperm and the egg are uncorrelated, which allows us to evaluate their unique impact on fertilisation and embryo quality. And we saw that both maternal and paternal air pollution exposures during gametogenesis have independent, largely detrimental, effects on early embryological outcomes.'
The researchers conducted a retrospective study, in which they looked back on previously collected data, and published their findings in Environment International. They examined data from 500 anonymous egg donors, whose eggs were collected and frozen months to years previously, and 915 recipient male partners whose fresh sperm was used to fertilise the thawed eggs using intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In total, 1095 eggs were thawed between 2008 and 2019.
They studied the link between air pollution and fertility and embryo quality outcomes, in particular exposure to fine airborne particles of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5). These organic carbon particles, often found in vehicle exhaust and wildfires, were found to have a negative effect on egg survival, fertilisation and embryo quality.
'Based on our study, and other studies, air pollution is certainly an exposure of concern for those who are seeking to reproduce and conceive. It really should be an important focus to mitigate exposures for these populations, among many other populations,' commented Dr Sarah LaPointe, first author and postdoctoral fellow at Emory University.
Another recent study, undertaken by scientists in China and published in Nature, investigated the correlation between exposure to air pollutants and fetal growth restriction in women who conceived using IVF. Fetal growth restriction is when the estimated weight of a fetus is less than the tenth percentile for their gestational age.
The scientists found that exposure to PM10 and nitric dioxide during the first trimester and exposure to PM2.5, PM10 and nitric dioxide during the second trimester were associated with an increased risk of fetal growth restriction. They found the risk was particularly pronounced in women over 35 years of age who were exposed to nitric dioxide during pregnancy.
Sources and References
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Having difficulty getting pregnant? Study shows air pollution may play a role
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Air pollution exposure in vitrified oocyte donors and male recipient partners in relation to fertilization and embryo quality
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The effect of air pollution exposure on foetal growth restriction in pregnant women who conceived by in vitro fertilisation a cross-sectional study
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