Air Pollution May Alter Sperm DNA Function, Study Suggests

Kathmandu. Air pollution can bring about changes in the functioning of male sperm DNA, a large study has shown. According to researchers, subtle changes in gene activation or inactivation processes have been observed in men exposed to polluted air during sperm development, raising concerns about male fertility. This study was presented on Tuesday at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology held in London.

The research has specifically identified ozone and nitrogen dioxide as the pollutants most associated with such changes in sperm DNA. Dr. Carrie Nobles, an epidemiologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who led the study, stated that exposure to air pollution during the crucial stage of sperm development has been linked to changes in sperm DNA.