Polluted air is a very common problem, especially in the larger cities of the country. It has a serious impact on people’s health. It is known that air pollution can lead to higher risks for the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. However, it is also possible to affect male fertility. This theory was investigated by a small team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in and around Shanghai, China. In their study, the scientists found evidence that men who live in heavily polluted areas could have poor sperm motility. Sperm motility is the ability of sperm to swim forward and is considered a measure of sperm health. Previous analyzes have been inconclusive regarding air pollution and sperm health. This link was successfully confirmed by the new study, which included 33,876 men from various reproductive health clinics in 130 cities in China. The participants are divided into groups according to the area in which they live and the level of polluted air in it. The researchers analyzed multiple studies of men’s semen obtained from relevant clinics and medical professionals. They focus on the number of sperm, their concentration and motility. A relationship between polluted air and the amount of seminal fluid produced, as well as the concentration of sperm in it, was not found. However, the relationship of this harmful environmental factor with sperm motility has been noted. The researchers noticed that patients who lived in areas with higher concentrations of the smallest types of dust particles had the lowest sperm motility. Specifically, they found that patients exposed to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers had an average of 3.6% reduced sperm motility compared to a male with unaffected fertility in China. For those in whose environment the particles are larger – up to 10 micrometers in diameter – the average drop in mobility is 2.44%. It was also found that men who lived in highly polluted areas during their initial stages of sperm production had the most pronounced disorders. The study was published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Sources: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-02-air-pollution-sperm-motility.html https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789132