While it has long been known that female fertility is impaired by oestrogen exposure, it is unclear whether environmental pollutants with weak oestrogenic effects are sufficiently potent and prevalent to have biological effects in humans. Male fertility, or sperm concentration at least, appears to have deteriorated, and there is substantial spatial variation at both national and global level, as well as a genetic component. Sperm morphology and motility are implicated too. There is good evidence for an increase in testicular cancer, and possibly in other conditions that certain spatial characteristics plus evidence on heritability suggest are linked to impaired spermatogenesis.
Dioxins: Definition, dangers, sources, types, and more
Dioxins are a group of highly toxic chemical compounds that are harmful to health. They can cause problems with reproduction, development, and the immune system. They can also disrupt hormones and lead to cancer. Known as persistent environmental pollutants POPs , dioxins can remain in the environment for many years.
Window for Dioxin Damage: Sperm Quality in Men Born after the Seveso Disaster
A growing body of evidence suggests that environmental factors play an important role in the causes of male infertility. Our environment is contaminated by natural and synthetic chemicals, which could interact with the endocrine system, resulting in the reduction of human fertility. Studies carried out in recent years have proven that endocrine-disrupting chemicals may disturb fertility of men. Improper lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, high temperature, radiation also have negative impact on male fertility. Spermatozoa - Facts and Perspectives.
Animal studies demonstrate that endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as dioxin and dioxin-like compounds are particularly damaging when exposure occurs during prenatal and early-life development. A new study links dioxin exposure within this time frame in humans to reduced sperm quality in adult males [ EHP 5 —, Mocarelli et al. In July , a trichlorophenol plant explosion near Seveso, Italy, resulted in dioxin contamination of the surrounding area. Thirty-nine men who were born near Seveso between March and January made up the exposed group in the current study, while 58 age-matched controls were born outside the contaminated area.