Air pollution linked to decline in sperm DNA integrity, study by Indira IVF finds

A study by Indira IVF has identified a correlation between rising atmospheric toxicity and male infertility, showing that men living in highly polluted regions with an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 151 experience an 11 per cent decrease in normal sperm integrity compared with those in cleaner environments.

The research, titled “Evaluating the impact of environmental pollution on sperm DNA Fragmentation: A retrospective cohort analysis”, reports that as the AQI rises in industrialised cities, there is a corresponding increase in male infertility. The study introduces the concept of “pollution bias”, stating that worsening air quality is linked to higher levels of abnormal sperm and a decline in normal sperm counts.

The study followed recommendations of the World Health Organization to maintain diagnostic standards. The analysis showed that in areas with lower pollution levels, where AQI ranged from 50 to 100, 69.3 per cent of sperm samples were normal while 30.7 per cent were abnormal. As pollution levels increased, normal sperm levels declined. In regions with moderate pollution, where AQI ranged from 101 to 150, there was an 8.8 per cent reduction in normal sperm levels compared with cleaner areas. The decline was higher in regions with AQI above 151, where normal sperm levels decreased by 11 per cent. The data shows a link between rising air pollution and declining sperm DNA health, particularly in regions with moderate to high pollution.

Dr Kshitiz Murdia, CEO and Whole-Time Director, Indira IVF Hospital, said, “The implications of these findings extend beyond challenges related to conception. Prolonged exposure to environmental toxins can affect sperm DNA integrity, which may also have a bearing on foetal development, placing air pollution within a wider reproductive and developmental health context. In this study, patients were categorised based on sperm DNA fragmentation scores, with normal defined as less than 25 per cent fragmentation and abnormal as greater than 25 per cent, allowing us to closely assess how varying air quality levels impact sperm chromosome integrity. Our observations suggest that rising air pollution levels can serve as a reliable indicator for disturbed sperm DNA fragmentation, significantly impacting Sperm DNA integrity, particularly in high-pollution urban centres.”

Dr Vipin Chandra, Chief of Clinical and Lab Operations at Indira IVF Hospital, said, “We analysed a statistically significant cohort of 3,222 men aged 21 to 40 across 120 Indira IVF centres nationwide. Rather than focusing on conventional semen parameters such as sperm count or motility, the study specifically examined sperm DNA integrity. This enabled a more precise assessment of how exposure to air pollution directly impacts the genetic structure of sperm, offering deeper insight into an often-overlooked contributor to male infertility.”

The findings link rising AQI levels with measurable DNA fragmentation and identify air pollution as a contributor to impaired sperm DNA health. Researchers also noted that the rising burden of male infertility observed in recent years aligns with prolonged exposure to poor air quality.