RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and semen quality in Taiwan
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP oemed-2017-104529
DO 10.1136/oemed-2017-104529
A1 Xiang Qian Lao
A1 Zilong Zhang
A1 Alexis KH Lau
A1 Ta-Chien Chan
A1 Yuan Chieh Chuang
A1 Jimmy Chan
A1 Changqing Lin
A1 Cui Guo
A1 Wun Kai Jiang
A1 Tony Tam
A1 Gerard Hoek
A1 Haidong Kan
A1 Eng-kiong Yeoh
A1 Ly-yun Chang
YR 2017
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2017/10/21/oemed-2017-104529.abstract
AB Objectives Environmental exposure to chemicals has been considered a potential factor contributing to deteriorated semen quality. However, previous literature on exposure to air pollution and semen quality is inconsistent. We therefore investigated the health effects of short-term and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on semen quality in Taiwanese men from the general population.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 6475 male participants aged 15–49 years who participated in a standard medical examination programme in Taiwan between 2001 and 2014. Semen quality was assessed according to the WHO 1999 guidelines, including sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility and morphology. Three-month and 2-year average PM2.5 concentrations were estimated at each participant’s address using a spatiotemporal model based on satellite-derived aerosol optical depth data. Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between PM2.5 and semen quality.Results A robust association was observed between exposure to PM2.5 and decreased normal morphology. Every increment of 5 µg/m3 in 2-year average PM2.5 was significantly associated with a decrease of 1.29% in sperm normal morphology and a 26% increased risk of having the bottom 10% of sperm normal morphology, after adjusting for a wide range of potential confounders (p<0.001). On the other hand, an increment of 5 µg/m3 in 2-year average PM2.5 was associated with an increase of 1.03×106/mL in sperm concentration and a 10% decreased risk of being the bottom 10% of sperm concentration (both p<0.001). Similar results were found for 3-month PM2.5.Conclusions Exposure to ambient PM2.5 air pollution is associated with a lower level of sperm normal morphology and a higher level of sperm concentration.