Environmental Contaminants Disrupt Male Fertility

Today’s Science Daily has the disturbing results of a study on environmental contaminants and low birth weight, genital malformations in male newborns and decreased male fertility. Researchers believe that environmental contaminants are reducing male hormone action in utero and creating a cascade of adverse effects.

The study, which analyzed more than 5 million Canadian public health records, shows a decrease in the differential between male and female birth weights. Normally, male birth weights are higher due to male hormones in the fetus.

“…the investigators effectively show a sustained decrease in birth weight differences between boys and girls, which supports the hypothesis of growing endocrine disruption related to environmental contaminants. Contaminants found in plastic materials represent plausible candidates, since they are known to diminish the action of male hormones.”

It’s ironic that as we are polluting the earth, we are also polluting ourselves. Our reliance on things like Bisphenol A plastics, which are known to be endocrine disruptors, pesticides, artificial fertilizers and other chemical contaminants, is jeopardizing not just fetal health but the reproductive health of future generations.