Association between ambient particulate matter exposure and semen quality in fertile men

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) exposure on male reproductive health; few have investigated the association between PM exposure and semen quality in a large population of fertile men. METHODS: We evaluated 14 parameters of semen quality in 1554 fertile men in Nanjing from 2014 to 2016. Individual exposure to particular matter ≤10 μm in diameter (PM(10)) and ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter (PM(2.5)) during key periods of sperm development (0-90, 0-9, 10-14, 15-69, and 70-90 days before semen collection) were estimated by inverse distance weighting interpolation. Associations between PM exposure and semen quality were estimated using multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Higher 90-days average PM(2.5) was in association with decreased sperm motility (2.21% for total motility, 1.93% for progressive motility per 10 μg/m(3) increase, P < 0.001) and four quantitative aspects of sperm motion (curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), P < 0.01). The association between PM(2.5) exposure and semen quality were generally stronger for the earlier exposure window (70-90 days prior to ejaculation) than for recent exposure (0-9, 10-14, or 15-69 days). In the subgroup of men who had normal sperm parameters (n = 1019), similar results were obtained. Ninety-days PM(10) exposure was associated only with decreased VCL and VAP and was not related to sperm concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to PM(2.5) adversely affects semen quality, specifically lower sperm motility, in fertile men. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12940-022-00831-5.