SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Toxicol.
Sec. Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology
Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis on the Reproductive Effects of Micro-Pollutants in Humans and Animals*
Provisionally accepted
- 1Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Rome, Italy
- 2University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
- 3PhD Program in Social, Occupational and Medico-Legal Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy, Rome, Italy
- 4Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
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Background: Micro-pollutants, such as particulate matter, heavy metals, endocrine-disrupting compounds, and persistent organic pollutants, raise significant concerns regarding reproductive health in both humans and animals. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, assessed available evidence on micro-pollutant exposure and reproductive outcomes. Out of 2,134 records identified, 52 studies (31 human, 21 animal) met inclusion criteria. Results: Exposure to micro-pollutants was consistently associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. Human studies reported increased risks of irregular menstruation, preterm delivery (OR = 1.42), intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 1.36), and reductions in sperm concentration (SMD = - 0.48) and testosterone levels. A meta-analysis of 23 studies confirmed these associations, while animal studies provided mechanistic support, including histological damage and epigenetic modifications. Despite substantial heterogeneity, the overall quality of included studies was moderate-to-high. Conclusions: Evidence indicates that micro-pollutants are strongly associated with impaired reproductive health. While causality cannot be definitively established due to observational study designs, the consistency of findings across populations, pollutants, and species highlights an urgent need for further research and regulatory measures to mitigate reproductive risks.
Keywords: PM2.5, PM10, micro-pollutants, heavy metals, Endocrine- disrupting chemicals, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Reproductive Health, Fertility
Received: 24 Jul 2025; Accepted: 23 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Coppeta, Ferrari, Ippoliti, Campagnolo and Magrini. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Cristiana Ferrari, cristianaferrari.md@gmail.com
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