ABSTRACT
The relationship between fertility and pollution is unclear. We evaluated sperm quality of 562 candidate donors (years 1977-2004), births rates (births), pollutants, and the number of females in reproductive age (NFRA, 20-39 years) in Flanders. Total sperm count did not change significantly with time. Births correlated with sperm morphology (r=0.60, P=0.0027). Continuing decline in sperm morphology with time is confirmed, statistically unrelated to pollutants. Grade A sperm motility declined (1977-1992) with gradual incomplete recovery thereafter. Multiple regression analysis (1995-2002) indicated dioxin (negative association) as the only independent variable for grade A motility (r-adjusted co-efficient of determination "r-adjusted"=0.76, P=0.008). Births and pollution were positively associated but births were only dependent on NFRA (r-adjusted=0.91, P<0.001). Our results suggest a relation between dioxin and sperm motility, partially reversible upon reduction of environmental dioxin. Though significantly correlated with sperm morphology, births are primarily associated with demographic factors.
