Atmospheric pollutants and their impact on murine and human reproduction

Atmospheric pollution is caused by the presence or combination of physical, chemical, or biological pollutants in the air. In recent years, the most studied pollutant is particulate matter (PM), a varied mixture of solid and liquid particles. PM also carry highly toxic components from cigarette smoke combustion, with different microscopic sizes present in the atmosphere that can be inhaled and cause serious health problems due to toxicity at the cellular level and consequences at the inflammatory level. Currently, exposure to PM is associated with alterations in processes of reproduction in mammals, affecting gamete and embryo viability. The objective of this review is to describe the effects of atmospheric pollutants on reproductive processes and the possible mechanisms of action, both cellular and molecular, which are of interest in human and animal health sciences. Studies show a cause and effect relationship between exposure to pollutants and gamete quality, with pollutants causing DNA damage, epigenetic modifications, an increase in oxidative stress and alterations in morphology. Likewise, effects in the prenatal and postnatal period are reported, such as premature births, low birth weight and spontaneous abortion. The results of this review show that atmospheric pollutants negatively influence reproductive processes in some mammals, as they can alter the mechanisms of oxidative regulation and regulation of gene expression in gametes, leading to cell toxicity and potential alterations in genomic stability.