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Planning parenthood via in vitro fertilization (IVF)? A recent study highlights a crucial factor that may influence success: avoiding outdoor air pollution.
Researchers from Emory University in the US have found that exposure to fine particulate matter, specifically PM2.5, can negatively impact human embryo development during IVF cycles. The study, published in Environment International, emphasizes the detrimental effects of air pollution during key reproductive stages for both men and women.
The research team, led by Dr. Audrey Gaskins, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Rollins School of Public Health, studied data from 500 anonymous oocyte donors and 915 male recipient partners who underwent IVF between 2008 and 2019. They discovered that exposure to air pollution during gametogenesis—when ovaries produce eggs and testicles produce sperm—had independent and significant negative effects on early embryological outcomes.
“We saw that both maternal and paternal air pollution exposures during gametogenesis have independent, largely detrimental, effects on early embryological outcomes,” said Dr. Gaskins.
Among the pollutants analyzed, ambient exposure to organic carbon—a major component of PM2.5—proved to be particularly harmful. Emitted from combustion sources such as vehicle exhaust, industrial processes, and wildfires, organic carbon was found to significantly affect oocyte survival, fertilization rates, and embryo quality.
Sarah LaPointe, a postdoctoral research fellow at Rollins, emphasized the broader implications of these findings. “Based on our study and other studies, air pollution is certainly an exposure of concern for those who are seeking to reproduce and conceive. It really should be an important focus to mitigate exposures for these populations, among many others,” she said.
The study builds on a growing body of evidence suggesting that air pollution can cause defects during gametogenesis, leading to reduced reproductive capacity in exposed populations.
For individuals planning to undergo IVF, the research underscores the importance of minimizing exposure to air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter like PM2.5. The findings call for urgent action to address air quality issues, not only to protect reproductive health but also for the broader well-being of affected populations.
