Table 4. Correlation of monthly mean ambient PM2.5 (µg/m3) concentration between 2017, 2018 and 2020 and sperm parameters in different periods of exposure (Group 1; n=678).
Sperm parameters PM2.5 exposure (Mean value ) Correlation coefficient p-value
Concentration (M/ml) On time
1-month lag
2-months lag
3-months lag		 -0.029 0.45
-0.026 0.51
0.013 0.74
0.029 0.45
Total motile sperm (%) On time
1-month lag
2-months lag
3-months lag		 0.037 0.34
0.038 0.33
0.036 0.36
0.045 0.24
Progressive motility (%) On time
1-month lag
2-months la
3-months lag		 0.060 0.12
0.076 0.049*
0.069 0.07
0.060 0.12
Normal morphology (%) On time
1-month ag
2-months lag
3-months lag		 0.018 0.68
0.064 0.14
0.100 0.02*
0.083 0.06

# 1-month lag : semen analysis 1 month following PM2.5 exposure
2-months lag : semen analysis 2 months following PM2.5 exposure
3-months lag : semen analysis 3 months following PM2.5 exposure