Exploring the relationship between ambient sulfur dioxide and semen quality parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between ambient sulfur dioxide (SO₂) exposure and semen quality parameters.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating the association between SO₂ exposure and semen quality parameters. This search encompassed the timeframe from January 2000 to May 2023 and included electronic databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus. Pooled effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using percent changes (PC). The meta-analysis included seven studies with 6 711 participants and 15 087 semen samples.

Results: The results revealed a significant negative association between ambient SO₂ exposure and certain semen quality parameters. In particular, SO₂ exposure was associated with a significant decrease in progressive motility (PC=0.032; 95% CI: -0.063 to -0.001; P=0.044) and sperm concentration (PC = -0.020; 95% CI: -0.036 to -0.005; P=0.012). However, no statistically significant associations were observed for total sperm count (PC = -0.038; 95% CI: -0.079 to 0.003; P=0.070), seminal fluid volume (PC = -0.009; 95% CI: -0.048 to -0.030; P=0.662) and sperm motility (PC = -0.17; 95% CI: -0.363 to 0.022; P=0.830). In addition, the results of the subgroup analysis revealed specific variables that were associated with the decrease in relevant sperm parameters.

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis provides compelling evidence supporting a consistent negative association between exposure to ambient SO₂ and semen quality parameters.

Keywords

Semen quality / Sulfur dioxide / Ambient air pollution / Meta-analysis

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the researchers whose articles were utilized in this study.

Funding

The study received no extramural funding.

Authors' contributions

Seyed Sobhan Bahreiny and Dr. Moslem Javidan designed the study, collected all the data, and drafted the manuscript. Mojtaba Aghaei and Dr. Hamid Ghorbani also contributed to the search strategy, article search, study selection, and manuscript preparation. Dr. Reza Mohammadpour Fard and Seyed Sobhan Bahreiny analyzed and interpreted the scientific data and results. Finally, all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Publisher's Note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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