A comprehensive study has identified a direct correlation between rising atmospheric toxicity and male infertility, revealing that men living in highly polluted regions (AQI >151) experience an 11 per cent decrease in normal sperm integrity compared to those in cleaner environments.

The research by Indira IVF, titled “Evaluating the impact of environmental pollution on sperm DNA Fragmentation: A retrospective cohort analysis”, highlights that as the Air Quality Index (AQI) escalates in industrialised cities, there is a corresponding "boom" in male infertility. The study introduces the concept of “pollution bias”, highlighting that worsening air quality is linked to higher levels of abnormal sperm and a steady decline in normal sperm counts.
 
To ensure high diagnostic standards, the study followed World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The analysis showed that in areas with lower pollution (AQI 50–100), 69.3 per cent of sperm samples were normal, while 30.7 per cent were abnormal. As air pollution increased, normal sperm levels fell. In moderately polluted regions (AQI 101–150), there was an 8.8 per cent drop in normal sperm compared to cleaner areas. The decline was greater in highly polluted zones (AQI above 151), where normal sperm levels decreased by 11 per cent. Overall, the data shows a clear link between worsening air quality and declining sperm DNA health, particularly in regions with moderate to high pollution levels.