April 30, 2003 – Car exhaust significantly affects the fertility of men who are regularly exposed to it, say Italian researchers.
The researchers compared the semen of 85 toll attendants to that of 85 other men living in the same area. While sperm count and testosterone levels were normal in both groups, all other semen quality measures in the attendant group were below standards set by the World Health Organization.
In particular, researchers have noticed a decrease in the mobility of sperm, which reduces their ability to fertilize the egg.1.
Prolonged exposure of attendants to elevated levels of lead, carbon monoxide, oxides of sulfur and oxides of nitrogen would be to blame. Researchers now want to know if the quality of the attendants’ semen will improve if they are removed from their workplace.
Recently, Korean researchers found that exposure to these same substances increased a woman’s chances of giving birth to a low-weight baby.2.
Similarly, researchers at McGill University say that a problem with erectile dysfunction in young men could be a warning sign of cardiovascular problems.
In particular, they found that well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, were found more frequently in men with erectile dysfunction.
Men who do not show symptoms of cardiovascular disease but have erectile problems should therefore undergo a comprehensive medical examination, the researchers say.
Two to three million men are believed to suffer from erectile dysfunction in Canada.
This latest study was funded by Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to BBC News, HealthScout News and CP, April 29-30, 2003.
1. Link to a summary of the study on the website of the journal Human Reproduction: humrep.oupjournals.org.
2. Lee BE, Ha EH, Park HS, Kim YJ, Hong YC, Kim H, Lee JT. Exposure to air pollution during different gestational phases contributes to risks of low birth weight.Hum Reprod 2003 Mar; 18 (3): 638-43. [Consulté le 30 avril 2003].
