Shocking! Public Health Expert links rising cases of infertility in men residing in Rivers State to soot

The rising cases of infertility in men residing in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and other communities in Rivers State is now a thing of concern to many, including health care providers. Speaking on Friday, at the ‘Stop The Soot’ Conference, organised by the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, a Public Health Expert, Dr. Dienye Briggs, attributed this alarming trend to high concentration of soot in the atmosphere.

Briggs, said a recent research carried out at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, showed that there were structural abnormally in the sperm cells of the majority of men living in Port Harcourt due to the soot particles in the atmosphere.

The public health expert, who spoke on the topic: “Port Harcourt Soot and Its Implications”, said: “A research done at the UPTH found out that majority of the males in Port Harcourt have structural abnormally, of course in their sperm cells. Of course, sperm is very much indicated in pregnancy.

“It is the sperm that will fertilise the egg in a woman to bring about pregnancy. If they are structurally abnormal, it means they lack the capacity to fertilise an egg. That means they cannot procreate.”

Briggs, reiterated the need for an end to the emission of the harmful particles linked with the soot, noting that unborn children now suffer the consequences of the soot.