Exposure to fine particulate matter, a common air pollutant , can significantly decrease the odds of a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, even in areas with good air quality, a new study found. The Australian study published Sunday in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology found that exposure to pollution before the retrieval of eggs during IVF can reduce the odds of achieving a live birth by almost 40 per cent. “ Climate change and pollution remain the greatest threats to human health, and human reproduction is not immune to this,” said Dr.
Sebastian Leathersich, lead author of the study and a fertility specialist based in Australia. “We found that increased exposure to particulate matter pollution (PM2.5 and PM10) in the weeks and months before egg collection were associated with reduced live birth rates, regardless of the pollution levels at the time of the embryo transfer,” he told Global News in an email sent Thursday.
Story continues below advertisement 2:21 Pregnant women exposed to traffic pollution could lead to asthma for child Outdoor air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health and is estimated to cause over four million premature deaths per year worldwide, a 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) report found . Exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with a range of adverse health conditions, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer, the WHO reported. Health Canada estimates .
