Ambient black carbon particles in human ovarian tissue and follicular fluid

Eva Bongaerts; Katariina Mamia; Ilmatar Rooda; Richelle D Björvang; Kiriaki Papaikonomou; Sebastian B Gidlöf; Jan I Olofsson; Marcel Ameloot; Ernesto Alfaro-Moreno; Tim S Nawrot; Pauliina Damdimopoulou

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108141

Ambient black carbon particles in human ovarian tissue and follicular fluid

Environ Int. 2023 Sep:179:108141. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108141. Epub 2023 Aug 12.

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Hasselt, Belgium.
² Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
³ Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
⁵ Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
⁶ Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
⁷ Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, 3590 Hasselt, Belgium.
⁸ Nanosafety Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal.
⁹ Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
¹⁰ Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden. Electronic address: pauliina.damdimopoulou@ki.se.

PMID: 37603992
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108141

Abstract

Evidence indicates a link between exposure to ambient air pollution and decreased female fertility. The ability of air pollution particles to reach human ovarian tissue and follicles containing the oocytes in various maturation stages has not been studied before. Particulate translocation might be an essential step in explaining reproductive toxicity and assessing associated risks. Here, we analysed the presence of ambient black carbon particles in (i) follicular fluid samples collected during ovum pick-up from 20 women who underwent assisted reproductive technology treatment and (ii) adult human ovarian tissue from 5 individuals. Follicular fluid and ovarian tissue samples were screened for the presence of black carbon particles from ambient air pollution using white light generation by carbonaceous particles under femtosecond pulsed laser illumination. We detected black carbon particles in all follicular fluid (n = 20) and ovarian tissue (n = 5) samples. Black carbon particles from ambient air pollution can reach the ovaries and follicular fluid, directly exposing the ovarian reserve and maturing oocytes. Considering the known link between air pollution and decreased fertility, the impact of such exposure on oocyte quality, ovarian ageing and fertility needs to be clarified urgently.

Keywords: Air pollution; Black carbon particles; Exposure assessment; Follicular fluid; Human oocytes; Human ovaries.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Air Pollution*
Carbon
Female
Follicular Fluid
Humans
Oocytes
Ovary*

Substances

Carbon