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Environmental determinants of male infertility: emerging threats and technological interventions
Summary
This review examines how environmental contaminants, including microplastics, air pollution, heavy metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, may contribute to declining male fertility. The study suggests these environmental toxins can impair sperm function through oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, and inflammation, and highlights the need for integrating environmental exposure data into fertility assessments.
Male infertility stands as a significant global concern, contributing to nearly 50% of infertility cases and affecting approximately 7% of the male population. Mounting evidence identifies environmental degradation is a major, modifiable driver. Numerous environmental contaminants, including air pollution, heavy metals, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), microplastics, pharmaceutical contaminants, and climate change linked to deteriorating semen quality. These environmental toxins can decrease spermatogenesis and overall sperm function by triggering oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, inflammation, and epigenetic alterations. This review highlights the increasing necessity of incorporating environmental exposure data (eco-profiles) into routine semen analysis. An integrated framework is outlined in which AI algorithms analyze multi-omics biomarkers, ranging from genomics to metabolomics, together with environmental metrics. These combined data are used to predict individual fertility risk and to guide personalized treatment strategies, particularly in the context of assisted reproductive technologies. Future studies are essential to find trustworthy biomarkers and elucidate the molecular processes that connect environmental contaminants to male infertility. As environmental toxicants intensify, the comprehensive toxicological studies are in need to enhance curative approaches and preventative strategies that ultimately aim at safeguarding male fertility.