Impacts of Air Pollution on Gynecologic Disease: Infertility, Menstrual Irregularity, Uterine Fibroids, and Endometriosis: a Systematic Review and Commentary.

Mahalingaiah S, Lane K, Kim C, Cheng J, Hart J (2018). Impacts of Air Pollution on Gynecologic Disease: Infertility, Menstrual Irregularity, Uterine Fibroids, and Endometriosis: a Systematic Review and Commentary. Current Epidemiology Reports.

CRESSH researchers recently published a new paper reviewing the current scientific literature on the impacts of air pollution on reproductive and gynecologic health titled “Impacts of Air Pollution on Gynecologic Disease: Infertility, Menstrual Irregularity, Uterine Fibroids, and Endometriosis: a Systemic Review and Commentary.” The study, published in Current Epidemiology Reports, systematically examined the existing literature in order evaluate the effects of air pollution on various gynecologic diseases, including infertility, menstrual irregularity, uterine fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus), and endometriosis (the development tissues similar to uterine-lining outside the uterus). Based on their review of the literature, the authors found that previous studies focused mainly on fine particulate matter (particles ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter i.e. PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (particles 2.5–10 μm in diameter i.e. PM2.5 -PM10], traffic-related pollutants such as NO2 and other nitrogen oxides, as well as proximity to major roadways. Although some studies found that air pollution due to roadway proximity and other traffic-related exposures impact things like infertility, fertility rates, and menstrual irregularity, the authors concluded that more research is needed in order better understand how air pollution impacts reproductive and gynecologic health in different populations.

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