If we are to believe a study published in the journal Human Reproduction, the sperm of the males living in big cities is “rotten”.

The study says that exposure to air pollution affects the sperm’s quality in a negative way.

The researchers behind the study say the damage is temporary, so if you move away from the pollution your new sperm will be of better quality.

The team studied 35 males from Teplice, Czech Republic. During the winter months, this city has high levels of air pollution and scientists have found that their sperm quality deteriorated during that period and improved significantly during the months when air pollution was low.

Researchers say the pollution damages the sperm's DNA - raising the risk of miscarriage and making conception less likely.

Aside from air pollution, the study also points out other factors that affect the sperm’s quality. It seems that smoking, heavy drinking of alcohol and extreme stimuli, like pressure and heat, also decrease the quality of sperm. Another factor I didn’t expect to find is marijuana. But I think I have the explanation: because marijuana makes individuals lazy, it’s likely that the notorious plant also affects the spermatozoids.

Is our western conscious ruled by selfish indifference to creating healthy offspring, affecting our unconscious need to procreate?
Lifestyle and environment are seemingly evolving us more than we want to admit.