Effects of indoor air purification by an air cleaning system (Koala technology) on semen parameters in male factor infertility: results of a pilot study

Abstract

A number of studies indicated a clear decline in semen quality in the past 30-50 years and there is accumulating evidence that this decline might result from exposure to high levels of air pollution. To examine the impact of environment on male reproductive ability, we undertook for the first time a pilot study on semen quality of infertile men exposed to purification of indoor air. Ten subjects with a history of unexplained male infertility and poor semen quality were exposed for at least 1 year to a cleaning indoor air system (Koala technology). The key feature of this air purifier is the unique innovative multiple filtering system. The treatment of total purification of indoor air showed neither improvements in semen parameters nor variation in reproductive hormones (P = N.S.), but induced an evident increase (P < 0.03 and more) in seminal leucocytic concentrations. Within the limits due to the small sample of subjects recruited, the sole purification of indoor air does not seem enough to improve semen quality, although the increase in leucocytic concentrations could indicate an activation of the role of immunosurveillance in a purified indoor air environment.

Fecundidade e Ambiente: temas e controvérsias

“…Ainda que não exista consenso sobre os determinantes na infertilidade masculina, diversos fatores têm contribuído para esse quadro, como os comportamentais, biológicos, socioeconômicos e físicos (PARADISI, et al, 2009;UFJF, 2011).…”

Ambient air pollution exposure and damage to male gametes: human studies andin situ‘sentinel’ animal experiments

“…Sentinel animal experiments clearly demonstrate that exposure to ambient air pollution for even a relatively short period causes damage to the respiratory tract from the upper airway to the lungs (Table 2; one exception, see [Moss et al 2001]). It is likely that similar changes in humans cause the increases in respiratory illnesses and related deaths that have previously been correlated with air [De Rosa et al 2003;Guven et al 2008;Paradisi et al 2009 The total sample size of the study is listed here; in some cases the number of participants for specific assays is considerably less than the study total. Perreault et al [2000] and Selevan et al [2000] both used the same cohort of men, and thus are not independent samples; the same is true for Rubes et al [2005 and2007].…”

Influência da exposição ocupacional à poluição atmosférica de origem veicular nos parâmetros seminais de controladores de tráfego na região metropolitana de São Paulo

“…No entanto, a interferência de fatores químicos (poluição) na saúde reprodutiva masculina é aleatória e pouco entendida (Paradisi et al, 2009).…”

“…Em São Paulo, o estudo de Pereira et al (1998) (Michal et al, 1993;Paradisi et al, 2009). A interação entre seres humanos e o ambiente é um processo contínuo e complexo, que leva o homem a se adaptar às diferentes condições do ambiente ao redor do mundo (Michal et al, 1993).…”

“…O estudo Paradisi et al (2009) concorda com nossos resultados, nele os níveis séricos de LH, FSH, prolactina, testosterona total e livre em homens expostos à purificação total de ar não foram diferentes em relação a homens expostos à poluição ambiental. Porém, Uhler et al (2003), demonstrou correlação negativa entre a atividade do FSH e concentração seminal em um grupo de homens sem fatores de riscos conhecidos para infertilidade.…”