Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Environmental factors and the proportion of males at birth in Italy
Irene Figà-Talamanca1, Pietro Carbone, Laura Lauria
1Department of Animal and Human Biology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy. irene.figatalamanca@uniroma1.it
Abstract:
A significant decline in the proportion of male births has been observed in recent decades in several western countries, and several researchers have raised the question of the possible role of environmental pollution in this trend. In the present analysis, the authors examined the effect of environmental factors (pollution from pesticides, urban pollution, and industrial pollution) on the sex ratio (proportion of males) of Italian singleton 1st births for the years 1989-1993, controlling for the age of the mother. The data show a slight increase in the sex ratio from north to south; however, no reduction in the proportion of males was seen in areas with higher pesticide consumption or intense industrial pollution. A small reduction in sex ratio was found in the major urban centers. The analysis was based on individual information on birth order and maternal age, as well as on ecological data on environmental pollution. No significant association was found between environmental pollution and the proportion of male births in Italy during the study period.
Related Concept Videos
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
Infertility in Males
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size. Today,...

