Jun-feng Tan , Li-li Huang , Zhong-Hua Lu , Hang-Yu Xiang , Hong Yang , Hai-Xia Zhou , Tian-qing Meng , Cheng-liang Xiong , Yi-Xin Wang , Jie Zhang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Declining semen quality has become a global concern, with environmental exposures implicated as key contributors. In this prospective cohort study of 649 men in Wuhan, China, we investigated associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) components, ambient temperature, and semen quality, and explored underlying mechanisms using untargeted seminal plasma metabolomics. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression and generalized linear models revealed that higher exposures to nitrate (NO3−), sulfate (SO42−), and temperature were independently associated with reduced sperm concentration. Specifically, a 2.72-fold increase in NO3−, SO42−, and temperature corresponded to decreases of 19.41 × 106/mL, 47.89 × 106/mL, and 36.05 × 106/mL in sperm concentration, respectively. Metabolomic profiling identified distinct metabolic signatures associated with each exposure: SO42− and temperature predominantly disrupted lipid metabolism, while NO3− exposure primarily disrupted nucleotide metabolism. Notably, three metabolites—3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine, eicosapentaenoic acid, and uridine—were consistently linked to all exposures, indicating shared pathways involving mitochondrial dysfunction, membrane instability, and oxidative stress. These findings provide molecular evidence that co-occurring environmental stressors can impair male reproductive health via convergent metabolic mechanisms, highlighting the importance of addressing both individual and combined exposure risks.
期刊介绍:
The Environmental Research journal presents a broad range of interdisciplinary research, focused on addressing worldwide environmental concerns and featuring innovative findings. Our publication strives to explore relevant anthropogenic issues across various environmental sectors, showcasing practical applications in real-life settings.