Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41032203›Full record

ReviewJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2025

The silent crisis: investigating the impact of environmental pollutants on embryo-fetal development: a narrative review of the Group of Special Interest for Environment of the Italian Society of Fertility and Sterility and Reproductive Medicine.

Alessandra Alteri, Stefano Canosa, Andrea Di Nisio, Carlo Foresta, Valerio Pisaturo, Group of Special Interest for Environment of the Italian Society of Fertility, Sterility, Reproductive Medicine (SIFES-MR)

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alessandra Alteri *Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Stefano Canosa *IVIRMA, Global Research Alliance, Livet, Turin, Italy.
Andrea Di NisioDepartment of Psychology and Health Sciences, Pegaso University, Naples, Italy.
Carlo ForestaDepartment of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy. carlo.foresta@unipd.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6576-2183
Valerio PisaturoDepartment of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza - University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Group of Special Interest for Environment of the Italian Society of Fertility, Sterility, Reproductive Medicine (SIFES-MR)

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEnvironmental pollution is a growing global concern, yet its effects on reproductive health remain poorly understood. While numerous epidemiological studies have identified strong associations between exposure to pollutants and adverse reproductive outcomes, the precise biological mechanisms underlying these effects remain elusive.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was performed by two reviewers using the US National Library of Medicine (NCBI Pubmed) up to August 15, 2025.

resultsChemical and physical contaminants, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), particulate matter (PM), heavy metals, and heat stress (HS), have been implicated in disrupting of essential reproductive processes, such as gametogenesis, fertilization, implantation, and embryogenesis. Despite accumulating evidence, the complexity of these interactions has hindered the development of targeted interventions and effective regulatory policies.

conclusionsThis review argues that investment in reproductive environmental research is not only necessary but urgent. The pervasive nature of pollution and its potential long-term consequences on fertility and pregnancy outcomes warrant an intensified focus on mechanistic studies, improved environmental monitoring, and the integration of toxicological data into reproductive medicine. It is imperative to prioritize research that can provide the necessary insights to mitigate these threats. This paper highlights the knowledge gaps, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach that combines epidemiology, toxicology, and molecular biology to inform policies and safeguard reproductive health.

Indexed as

Embryonic DevelopmentEnvironmental PollutantsFetal DevelopmentInfertilityEndocrine DisruptorsEnvironmental ExposureFemaleFertilityHumansItalyPregnancyReproductive HealthReproductive MedicineEndocrine DisruptorsEnvironmental PollutantsEmbryo developmentEndocrine disruptorsFetusPollutionStress

Identifiers

PMID41032203
PMCPMC12705484

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.