Preprint Hypothesis Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Semen Quality as a Potential Susceptibility Indicator to SARS-CoV-2 Insults in Polluted Areas

Version 1 : Received: 24 June 2020 / Approved: 26 June 2020 / Online: 26 June 2020 (12:37:35 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 6 July 2020 / Approved: 6 July 2020 / Online: 6 July 2020 (09:48:39 CEST)

How to cite: Montano, L.; Bonapace, I. M.; Donato, F.; Bianco, P. M.; Guglielmino, A.; Piscopo, M. Semen Quality as a Potential Susceptibility Indicator to SARS-CoV-2 Insults in Polluted Areas . Preprints 2020, 2020060314. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0314.v1 Montano, L.; Bonapace, I. M.; Donato, F.; Bianco, P. M.; Guglielmino, A.; Piscopo, M. Semen Quality as a Potential Susceptibility Indicator to SARS-CoV-2 Insults in Polluted Areas . Preprints 2020, 2020060314. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0314.v1

Abstract

High levels of air pollution can contribute to high rate of the COVID-19 outbreaks. Air pollutants induce oxidative stress, inflammatory process, immune imbalance and coagulation at systemic level, making the organism susceptible to complications caused by various pathogens, including viruses, resulting in a possible important damage co-factor. Sperm cells are highly sensitive to the pro-oxidant effects of environmental pollutants, and may represent an important alarm bell indicating that the burden of environmental pressure in a certain area is causing damage to humans. A comparison of the maps of COVID-19 case fatality rates, male infertility rates and air pollution may suggest a way to understand the dynamics of the virus impact. Semen quality may be considered as an early and sensitive environmental marker, and also a potential susceptibility indicator to viral insults (including SARS-CoV-2 ) in heavily polluted areas. Therefore, assessing the burden of environmental exposure of a given population and its potential susceptibility to insults through early biological stress indicators may be helpful for predicting the risk of the adverse effects by the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.

Keywords

air pollution; COVID-19; semen quality; environmental marker; health marker; oxidative stress

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Urology and Nephrology

Comments (2)

Comment 1
Received: 26 June 2020
Commenter: Gina
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment: the paper is a very topical topic. It is a very interesting document. The overlap between pollution, covid infection and the use of the seed as an indicator is brilliant!
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Comment 2
Received: 10 September 2020
Commenter: Paola Leotta
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment: This is an interesting study and the authors described very well the topic.The paper is well written and structured. Brilliant topic and good paper !
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