Content area
Full text
Semen Quality Decline Linked to Ozone Pollution
Some recent studies examining the effect of environmental hazards on fertility claim that sperm counts are declining in certain industrialized countries. Although the validity of these findings is uncertain, most researchers agree that if there is in fact a decline in semen quality, it's probably linked to geographic location. Now a team of California researchers has examined how exposure to specific air pollutants-ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and paniculate matter smaller than 10 micrograms in diameter (PM^sub 10^)-affects semen quality and reports a direct connection between ozone exposure and reduced sperm count [EHP 114:360-365; Sokol et al.].
It is estimated that at least 2.1 million couples in the United States have difficulty achieving pregnancy, with male infertility responsible for 40-50% of infertility cases. Exposure...