Impact of Pollution on fertility

Pollution is a serious threat to human health. It’s linked to an increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory problems. For example, air pollutants may serve as endocrine disruptors, enhance oxidative stress, and cause genotoxicity.

In addition, new studies by researchers published in recent years suggest that air pollution may harm reproductive health. We come into contact with a variety of chemicals in our modern lives through the goods we use, the food we consume, and the air we breathe. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a type of chemical that has been shown in studies to have harmful impacts on female and male reproductive health.

What are endocrine-disrupting chemicals?

EDCs are compounds found in the environment, such as air, soil, water, food, and manufactured goods. They can disrupt the body’s regular functioning, including women’s and men’s reproductive systems. Some EDCs are found in foods. More worrying is the presence of about 800 synthetic EDCs in daily items such as food containers, plastics, personal care products, and food products. We are all exposed to EDCs because of their many and varied sources, albeit the extent of your exposure varies based on your profession, lifestyle choices, and geography.

What exactly do EDCs do?

By mimicking or inhibiting male and female sex hormones, they can have harmful impacts on male and female reproductive health. Changes in hormone levels, decreased sperm and egg quality, DNA damage in sperm, longer menstrual cycles, a longer time to get pregnant, a higher risk of miscarriage, and earlier menopause can all result from this.

According to studies, EDCs are found in 95% of people examined, and infertile people have greater levels of several EDCs. Higher levels of some EDCs, for example, reduce the chances of getting pregnant in couples who use assisted reproductive technology (ART).

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Types of EDC & their sources:

How to reduce exposure

While we can’t completely prevent being exposed to EDCs, we can take some basic actions to minimize our exposure:

• Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed.
• Eating fewer processed, canned, and prepackaged foods reduces your intake of BPA, phthalates, and plasticizers.
• Limit your consumption of fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines) and fatty meats.
• Avoid handling sales receipts or keeping them in your wallets.
• Avoid deodorants, smoke, harsh chemicals, heavily scented products, plastic smells, and fumes.
• Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in the garden, at work, or at home.