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Common Environmental Hazards and Male Infertility: Effects on Epididymal Immune Microenvironment
Xin-Run Wang1,2, Hao Li3, Yi-Fan Hu1,2
1Department of Toxicology, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Toxics
|February 26, 2026
Summary
Environmental hazards negatively impact male fertility by disrupting the epididymal immune microenvironment (EIM). This review synthesizes how chemical, physical, biological, and behavioral exposures impair EIM homeostasis, leading to male infertility.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Male Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Male infertility is a growing public health concern, with environmental factors playing a significant, yet underappreciated, role.
- The epididymis is crucial for sperm maturation and motility, requiring a stable immune microenvironment (EIM) for male fertility.
- A comprehensive understanding of how various environmental hazards impact the EIM and contribute to infertility is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review common environmental hazards and their effects on the epididymal immune microenvironment (EIM).
- To elucidate the disruption of EIM homeostasis by environmental exposures and its link to male infertility.
- To identify immunological mechanisms underlying environmental hazard-induced male infertility for developing interventions.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review and synthesis of existing research on environmental hazards and male reproductive health.
- Evaluation of the composition, function, and characteristics of the EIM.
- Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms linking environmental exposures (chemical, physical, biological, behavioral) to EIM dysregulation.
Main Results:
- Environmental hazards significantly disrupt the delicate homeostasis of the EIM.
- Specific categories of environmental exposures demonstrably impair EIM function, contributing to male infertility.
- Shared immunological pathways are implicated in the adverse effects of diverse environmental insults on male reproductive health.
Conclusions:
- The EIM is a critical target for understanding and mitigating environmental hazard-induced male infertility.
- Disruption of EIM homeostasis by environmental factors is a key mechanism driving male infertility.
- Targeted interventions based on immunological insights can help prevent and treat male infertility linked to environmental exposures.
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