Semen Quality and Reproductive Health of Young Czech Men Exposed to Seasonal Air Pollution

• Published in: Environmental health perspectives Vol. 108; no. 9; pp. 887 - 894
• Main Authors: Selevan, Sherry G., Borkovec, Libor, Slott, Valerie L., Zudová, Zdena, Rubes̆, Jir̆í, Evenson, Donald P., Perreault, Sally D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. National Institutes of Health. Department of Health, Education and Welfare 01-09-2000; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Air pollutants; Air pollution; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Air sampling; Chromatin; Czech Rep; Czech Republic - epidemiology; Humans; Industry; Infertility, Male - chemically induced; Infertility, Male - epidemiology; Male; Men; Questionnaires; Reproduction - drug effects; Reproduction - physiology; Rural Population; Seasons; Semen; Semen - drug effects; Semen - physiology; Semen analysis; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Sperm Motility - physiology; Spermatozoa; Urban Population; Winter; Czech Republic
• ISSN: 0091-6765; 1552-9924
• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.00108887

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.