Semen quality and reproductive health of young Czech men exposed to seasonal air pollution
Language English Country United States Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
PubMed
11017895
PubMed Central
PMC2556931
DOI
10.1289/ehp.00108887
PII: sc271_5_1835
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Chromatin MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Urban Population MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Sperm Motility drug effects physiology MeSH
- Infertility, Male chemically induced epidemiology MeSH
- Sperm Count MeSH
- Industry MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Reproduction drug effects physiology MeSH
- Semen drug effects physiology MeSH
- Rural Population MeSH
- Air Pollution adverse effects MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic epidemiology MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Chromatin MeSH
This study of male reproductive health in the Czech Republic resulted from community concern about potential adverse effects of air pollution. We compared young men (18 years of age) living in Teplice, a highly industrialized district with seasonally elevated levels of air pollution, to those from Prachatice, a rural district with relatively clean air. Surveys were scheduled for either late winter, after the season of higher air pollution, or at the end of summer, when pollution was low. Participation included a physical examination, donation of a semen sample, and completion of a questionnaire on health, personal habits, and exposure to solvents and metals through work or hobby. Analysis of data from 408 volunteers showed that the men from Teplice and Prachatice were similar in physical characteristics, personal habits, and work- or hobby-related exposures. Sixty-six percent (272) of these men donated a single semen sample for routine semen analysis, computer-aided sperm motion analysis, and sperm chromatin structure assay. The mean (median) sperm concentration and sperm count were 61. 2 (44.0) million/mL semen and 113.3 (81.5) million, respectively, and were not associated with district of residence or period of elevated air pollution. However, periods of elevated air pollution in Teplice were significantly associated with decrements in other semen measures including proportionately fewer motile sperm, proportionately fewer sperm with normal morphology or normal head shape, and proportionately more sperm with abnormal chromatin. These results suggest that young men may experience alterations in sperm quality after exposure to periods of elevated air pollution, without changes in sperm numbers.
References provided by Crossref.org
Impact of Air Pollution on the Health of the Population in Parts of the Czech Republic
