Ambient sulfur dioxide could have an impact on testicular volume from a observational study on a population of infertile male
Journal
BMC Urology
Journal Volume
20
Journal Issue
1
Pages
149
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: The effect of ambient pollutants on the male reproductive system is controversial. This retrospective study investigated the effect of environmental pollutants on male reproductive health. Methods: Male patients with primary infertility (n = 282) were identified from a single center between January 2016 and December 2017. Patients were physically examined for the presence of varicocele and for the volume of both testicles. Semen quality was measured in terms of the total sperm count, sperm concentration, and the percentage of sperm cells with motility and normal morphology. Data were acquired on the concentration of ambient pollutants, namely particulate matters of diameter < 2.5 μm, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ozone (O3), measured on daily and hourly basis, from the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan, Taiwan. Individual exposure to pollutants was estimated based on the reported residential address of each participant. Statistical analysis indicated the effect of each pollutant on the testicular volume, sex hormone profile, and semen parameters. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of age was 36.7 ± 7.3 years. The average sperm count and concentration were 41.9 million/mL and 34.1 million/mL, respectively. The mean levels of serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were 3.57 ± 1.68 ng/mL, 7.59 ± 6.3 IU/L, and 4.68 ± 3.49 IU/L, respectively. According to the multivariate linear regression model, NOx exposure was a risk factor for decreased sperm concentration and motility (p = 0.043 and 0.032). Furthermore, SO2 exposure was negatively associated and testicular volume (p < 0.01). Conclusions: NO2 and SO2 exposure were negatively associated with the seminal parameter and decreased testicular volume, respectively, in a population of men with infertility. However, additional prospective studies are needed to ascertain the cause-effect relation of current results. ? 2020 The Author(s).
SDGs
Other Subjects
follitropin; luteinizing hormone; nitrogen oxide; ozone; sulfur dioxide; testosterone; sulfur dioxide; adult; Article; controlled study; demography; follitropin blood level; human; human cell; human tissue; luteinizing hormone blood level; major clinical study; male; male infertility; particulate matter; population research; prospective study; retrospective study; risk factor; sperm quality; spermatozoon count; spermatozoon density; spermatozoon motility; Taiwan; testis size; testosterone blood level; varicocele; adverse event; aged; air pollutant; anatomy and histology; drug effect; male infertility; middle aged; organ size; pharmacology; semen analysis; testis; young adult; Adult; Aged; Air Pollutants; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Middle Aged; Organ Size; Retrospective Studies; Semen Analysis; Sulfur Dioxide; Testis; Young Adult
Publisher
BioMed Central Ltd
Type
journal article