Saed News: Air pollution and its impact on the sexual health and fertility of men and women is an issue prevalent in many megacities in the country. However, it has received little attention as an obstacle to achieving the goals of the Youth Population Growth Law.
According to the Society Service of Saed News, quoting the Iranian Student News Agency, Iran is heading toward an aging population, and experts have repeatedly warned about this in recent years. The Youth Population Growth Law was enacted to implement policies aimed at addressing the consequences of this trend for the country. One of the policies pursued by this law is encouraging people to have children, with certain incentives also provided. However, there are obstacles that have received less attention.
Air pollution and its effects on the sexual health and fertility of men and women are issues prevalent in many of the country's major cities, yet they are rarely considered as barriers to achieving the objectives of the Youth Population Growth Law.
40% of Stillbirths Linked to Air Pollution
Air pollution plays a significant role in infertility and unsuccessful pregnancies. Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand, head of the Tehran Air Pollution Research Center, shared alarming statistics in an interview with ISCANews, stating:
"One of the issues we examined in Tehran in recent years is the impact of air pollution on stillbirths. We also studied its connection to dementia, infertility, and type 2 diabetes. Our research revealed that for every 1,000 births in the country, 9 to 7 stillbirths occur, with 40% of stillbirths nationally and globally attributed to air pollution."
According to Mojgan Modoudi, head of the obstetrics and gynecology department at Farhangian Hospital, air pollutants—particularly volatile organic compounds and substances in car exhaust such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen compounds, and sulfur—negatively impact fertility, pregnancy, and fetal health.
Modoudi states:
"Scientific studies have shown that air pollution significantly affects sperm quality and quantity, including reduced sperm count in semen, decreased sperm concentration, abnormalities in sperm shape, and reduced sperm motility—key factors for male fertility."
She further noted that women undergoing IVF (assisted reproductive treatments) have lower chances of successful pregnancies if exposed to air pollution during their treatment cycle, especially around the time of embryo transfer.
A recent study in Denmark highlights that men exposed to air pollution for five years face a higher risk of infertility. According to this research, air pollution caused by fine particulate matter from vehicles and power plants is linked to decreased sperm quality, particularly reduced motility and count.
Globally, research shows that male infertility accounts for 40-50% of all infertility issues.
When asked about solutions, Hassanvand recommended:
Indoor Air Precautions: Closing windows can reduce indoor air pollution by half. Using double-glazed windows can cut exposure by up to 40%.
Air Purifiers: Standard air purifiers with proper filtration can be 70% effective. However, caution is needed as some purifiers produce ozone, which can harm the respiratory system.
Masks:
Regular surgical masks, effective for COVID-19, reduce air pollution effects by less than 20%.
Three-layer masks are the most effective for reducing pollution effects. Proper fit ensures no gaps for air infiltration.
N95 masks are up to 70% effective but do not block 95% of pollutants as their name suggests.
Global and Iranian studies confirm that air pollution significantly contributes to infertility and unsuccessful pregnancies. As part of efforts to rejuvenate the population, addressing air pollution's impacts on reproductive health should not be overlooked.
