Environmental Impact on Semen Quality and Male Fertility

In recent years, a mounting evidence has highlighted a decline of semen quality and increase in male infertility. The alterations in male reproductive system may be caused by several environmental factors, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), heavy metals, air pollution, and electromagnetic fields. These compounds interfere with the action of hormones via multiple mechanisms and thus may lead to male infertility of both animals and humans. In this review, we discuss the current literature on the effects and underlying mechanisms of different classes of EDCs, including bisphenol-A, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls, organophosphate pesticides, and perfluorochemicals, in male reproductive system and semen quality. In addition, we provide an overview of studies that investigated the association between other environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals, air pollution and electromagnetic fields, and male infertility.