The effects of air pollution on men's reproductive health can be monitored by evaluating semen quality and sperm DNA damage. We used real-time PCR to analyse the effects of air pollution on sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and deletion (mtDNAdel) rates in semen samples collected from 54 men in two seasons with different levels of industrial and traffic air pollution. MtDNAdel rates were significantly higher following the high exposure period and were positively correlated with mtDNAcn. However, we did not find any difference in mtDNAcn between the two seasons. MtDNAcn was positively correlated with the DNA fragmentation index and the rates of sperm with chromatin condensation defects, previously assessed by sperm chromatin structure assay, and negatively correlated with sperm concentration, progressive motility, viability, and normal morphology. This indicates that mtDNAcn is more closely associated with male fertility than mtDNAdel rates. In contrast, mtDNAdel might be a more sensitive biomarker of air pollution exposure in urban industrial environments.

• MeSH
• Semen Analysis * MeSH
• Chromatin MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• DNA, Mitochondrial genetics   MeSH
• Sperm Motility MeSH
• Spermatozoa MeSH
• DNA Copy Number Variations MeSH
• Air Pollution * adverse effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Chromatin MeSH
• DNA, Mitochondrial MeSH

Thirty years ago, Northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic was one of the most air polluted areas in Europe. After political changes, the Czech government put forward a research program to determine if air pollution is really affecting human health. This program, later called the "Teplice Program", was initiated in collaboration with scientists from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This cooperation made possible the use of methods on the contemporary level. The very high concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the air showed, for the first time, the impact of air pollutants on the health of the population in mining districts: adverse pregnancy outcomes, the impact of air pollution on sperm morphology, learning disabilities in children, and respiratory morbidity in preschool children. A surprising result came from the distribution of the sources of pollution: 70% of PM10 pollution came from local heating and not from power plants as expected. Thanks to this result, the Czech government supported changes in local heating from brown coal to natural gas. This change substantially decreased SO2 and PM10 pollution and affected mortality, especially cardiovascular mortality.

• Keywords
• DNA adducts, PAHs, PM2.5, SO2, air pollution, mortality, neurobehavioral changes, pregnancy outcome, sperm abnormalities,
• MeSH
• Air Pollutants * analysis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Particulate Matter analysis   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Health MeSH
• Air Pollution * analysis   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Europe MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Air Pollutants * MeSH
• Particulate Matter MeSH