Exposure to air pollution significantly increases the risk of infertility, according to the first study to examine the danger to the general population.
Here are the results from the study:
- The research, published in the journal Environment International, was based on data from interviews and questionnaires from 18,571 couples who were part of the large China Fertility Survey of Married Women.
- The researchers found that women exposed to small particle pollution that was 10 micrograms per cubic meter higher over a year had a 20% greater risk of infertility.
- The average pollution level for the Chinese couples was 57µg/m3. In London, UK, the average is about 13µg/m3.
- The results also showed that the proportion of women not becoming pregnant after 12 months of trying rose from 15% to 26% when comparing the quarter exposed to the lowest pollution with the quarter suffering the highest.
- The researchers took account of other factors including age, weight, income, smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise levels.
- Qin Li, at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at Peking University Third hospital in China, who led the infertility research, said prospective parents should be concerned about air pollution.