Declining Sperm Quality Linked To Ozone Pollution

Home Page
The latest articles, features and news.



All About...

Adolescence
AIDS/HIV
Andropause
Circumcision
Dating
Dicks & History
Erectile Issues
Fertility
Fertility & Age
Improving Fertility
Gender
Male Peculiarities
Men's Health
Penis Problems
Penis Size
Prostate Health
Prostate Cancer
Relationships
STDs


Sponsored Links



Discussion Forums





Pecker Provisions


Condoms, lubes, pumps, stretchers, exercises, supplements, sports underwear and more.


Firefly Talks Dicks


Words of feminine wisdom about men's problems.



Share/Bookmark


6 October 2005
Declining Sperm Quality Linked To Ozone Pollution
by George Atkinson

A study of men living in the Los Angeles area has found a relationship between levels of atmospheric ozone and sperm development. The researchers said that exposure to increased ozone levels adversely affects developing sperm, leading to lower sperm quality. The results of the study, appearing in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, may lead to a better understanding of the causes of male infertility.

The study analyzed semen samples collected from regular sperm bank donors in the Los Angeles area and compared the quality of the samples with air quality data. The researchers found that exposure to elevated ozone levels near the donors' homes adversely impacted the quality of the semen. The impact of the pollutant was found to affect the sperm throughout its entire development in the body (spermatogenesis).

"We noted an inverse relationship between ozone exposure and sperm concentration at all time points studied, suggesting that spermatozoa are susceptible to this toxic exposure throughout spermatogenesis," the researchers said.

The study also looked at other pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter. Each of these air pollutants was believed to be capable of impacting sperm production but no relationship between sperm density and exposure to these other pollutants was found.

How ozone adversely affects sperm is still unclear. Ozone exposure is known to cause oxidative stress, which is known to disrupt testicular and sperm function. Exposure to ozone may induce either an inflammatory reaction in the male genital tract or the formation of circulating toxic chemicals - both of which can cause a decline in sperm concentration.

"The most widely studied evidence of potential environmental reproductive hazards is the report that sperm counts have declined in certain industrialized countries. The validity of these findings continues to be controversial, yet most investigators agree that if a decline in semen quality does exist, these changes are probably related to geographic location," the researchers concluded.



Share/Bookmark Discuss in our forum





Your use of this website indicates your agreement to our terms and conditions of use.
Copyright 2000 - 2010 altPenis.com and its licensors. All rights reserved.