Environment air pollution related to ART facilities and its potential involvement in IVF outcomes

Introduction

Embryo development is a very complex process and depends not only on the culture system but also on the entire environment of the in vitro fertilization laboratory (IVF). That is why the correlation between the contaminants present in the IVF laboratory and the specific harmful effects on human gametes and embryos is necessary but scientific evidence, especially on early stages of development, is insufficient.

Materials & methods

Therefore, information and data on how these contaminants could affect the health of oocytes and embryos has been compiled, making an extensive literature search. Types of contaminants, sources, environmental control and the harmful effects they can cause are described.

Results

Different types of particles (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could affect cellular structures interrupting cellular communication, modifying viability and changing their molecular profile, making them more vulnerable to hereditary mutations. Some adverse effects on embryonic maturation, morphology, segmentation, blastocyst development, hatching and implantation are described, which are related to negative clinical results.

Discussion

Despite the existing scientific evidence on how pollutants are detrimental to reproduction and development, the literature is scarce and dispersed. This literature provides an idea about the extent of the damage that pollutants can produce and the chemical or molecular mechanisms that could be involved. More studies with similar designs are needed to investigate further, especially about VOCs.