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About 7% of men are affected by infertility, which continues to increase in Western countries. To better understand its causes, two researchers have looked into the link between pollutants and lower sperm quality. Uplifting.
The two researchers, Andreas Kortenkamp from Brunel University in London (UK), and Hanne Frederiksen from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), worked together to study the impact of everyday pollutants on the fertility of men, especially on the quality of their sperm.
Their work has just been published in the scientific journal, Environment International.
Nine Recurring Chemicals
Based on European exposures, the researchers concluded that the decline in male fertility could be explained by a mixture of chemical pollutants, present in everyday products. Among the chemical substances,nine chemicals found together in urine samples of 98 young Danish men“.
These nine substances are known to be dangerous for male fertility, such as the different types of bisphenols A, F or S. These are present in the manufacture of electronic equipment, food packaging, but also in varnish or paint.
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Various and varied pollutants
The different types of phthalates that are found in the packaging (of cleaning products or food containers) were also detected in the urine of these volunteers. But the list does not end there.
The researchers also identified polychlorinated dioxins, which can be found in food, and butylparaben, a component of certain cosmetics. Finally, the last dangerous substance detected which may surprise: paracetamol.
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Exposure 20 times greater than the threshold
According to the authors, the median level of exposure to these substances is about 20 times higher than the current risk threshold.
Sometimes, the overexposure could actually reach a level 100 times higher than the authorized thresholds. According to the authors of this work, these pollutants play a role in male infertility. However, other parameters come into play, such as spermatogenesis abnormalities, by far the most common cause, or linked to lifestyle, such as diet, stress, smoking or even obesity.