Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Environment International, 193, 109147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.109147 Dr. Sarah LaPointe et al.
Points
- Higher maternal exposure to particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) and organic carbon (OC) during folliculogenesis and ovarian stimulation was associated with lower oocyte survival rates.
- Maternal exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone during ovarian stimulation was linked to higher fertilization rates and more usable embryos.
- During spermatogenesis, parental exposure to elemental carbon and OC negatively affected usable embryo rates in IVF cycles.
- The study demonstrated that maternal and paternal air pollution exposures during gametogenesis contribute to poor embryological outcomes in IVF.
- These findings emphasize the importance of mitigating air pollution exposure to improve reproductive health and IVF success rates.
Summary
This study, conducted by researchers at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, aimed to assess the impact of maternal and paternal air pollution exposure during gametogenesis on fertilization and embryo quality in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. The study analyzed data from 500 oocyte donors and 915 male recipient partners undergoing IVF cycles between 2008 and 2019. Using spatio-temporal models, the researchers estimated daily ambient air pollutant exposure during key stages of gametogenesis—folliculogenesis, ovarian stimulation, and spermatogenesis. The study examined the effects of exposure to particulate matter (PM), organic carbon (OC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, and other pollutants on oocyte survival, fertilization rates, and usable embryos.
The results showed that higher maternal exposure to organic carbon (OC) and particulate matter (PM) <10 µm during folliculogenesis was associated with lower oocyte survival after thaw (aOR = 0.86 [95% CI: 0.79, 0.94] for OC; aOR = 0.69 [95% CI: 0.54, 0.90] for PM10). During ovarian stimulation, exposure to PM2.5, nitrate, and OC also decreased the proportion of surviving oocytes, with aORs ranging from 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66–0.91) for PM2.5 to 0.86 (95% CI: 0.80–0.93) for OC. Interestingly, nitrogen dioxide (aOR = 1.11 [95% CI: 1.00–1.23]) and ozone (aOR = 1.19 [95% CI: 1.04–1.37]) exposure were associated with higher fertilization rates and usable embryos. Additionally, paternal exposure to elemental carbon and OC during spermatogenesis was linked to lower usable embryo rates (aOR = 0.93 [95% CI: 0.87, 1.00] for elemental carbon; aOR = 0.95 [95% CI: 0.90, 1.00] for OC).
The study highlighted that maternal and paternal air pollution exposures during gametogenesis independently negatively affect early embryological outcomes in IVF. These findings underscore the need to consider air pollution exposure as a factor in reproductive health and fertility treatments, suggesting that mitigating such exposures could improve IVF outcomes.
Link to the article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024007335
References LaPointe, S., Lee, J. C., Nagy, Z. P., Shapiro, D. B., Chang, H. H., Wang, Y., Russell, A. G., Hipp, H. S., & Gaskins, A. J. (2024). Air pollution exposure in vitrified oocyte donors and male recipient partners in relation to fertilization and embryo quality. Environment International, 193, 109147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.109147
