World News for Students of English

16-07-2026 07:00

A new four-year study shows that dirty air can hurt male fertility. Scientists studied more than 1,200 men and found that breathing in common city pollution causes small changes in sperm DNA.

These changes affect genes and can make it harder for men to have children. The biggest problems come from ozone and nitrogen dioxide, which are dangerous gases from cars and factories. Because of this, men who live in big, busy cities often have a lower sperm count, and their sperm cannot swim well. This is a serious problem because these changes can also affect the health of future babies.

Experts say it is difficult for everyone to leave the city, but men can protect themselves. They can lead a healthy lifestyle, wear face masks when there is a lot of smog, and visit nature outside the city.

Difficult words: fertility (the ability of a person to produce babies), pollution (dangerous, dirty, or poisonous substances in the air, water, or land), smog (smoke, gases, and chemicals which form a thick, dark fog over busy cities).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.