Pesticides Linked to , Decline in Male Fertility.
A new study linking pesticides with
low sperm concentrations was published in 'Environmental Health Perspectives' on Nov. 15. .
Data from over 1,700 men across
several decades was used in the research. .
The study examined "two groups of
chemicals — organophosphates and
some carbamates," NBC News reports. .
No matter how we looked at the analysis
and results, we saw a persistent association
between increasing levels of insecticide
and decreases in sperm concentration, Melissa Perry, study author, environmental epidemiologist
and the dean of the College of Public Health
at George Mason University, via NBC News.
I would hope this study would get the
attention of regulators seeking to make
decisions to keep the public safe from
inadvertent, unplanned impacts of insecticides, Melissa Perry, study author, environmental epidemiologist
and the dean of the College of Public Health
at George Mason University, via NBC News.
Last year, a report published in 'Human Reproduction Update' found that sperm counts around the
world were declining at an accelerated pace.
There’s been some pretty, I’d say,
convincing and sort of scary data on measures
of male fertility over the previous 50-70 years,
whatever it might be, from different
places around the world suggesting
sperm concentration is on decline and
not just a little bit, John Meeker, a professor of environmental
health sciences at the University of Michigan
School of Public Health, via NBC News.
NBC News points out that environmental
factors other than pesticides are also likely
contributing to declining sperm counts. .
We’re slowly pointing out various chemicals
or classes of chemicals we think could be
harmful to something like reproductive health,
but as far as a single smoking gun,
I haven’t seen anything to that extent, John Meeker, a professor of environmental
health sciences at the University of Michigan
School of Public Health, via NBC News.
Study author Melissa Perry hopes that the findings encourage agencies like the EPA to take action.
Given the body of evidence and these
consistent findings, it’s time to proactively
reduce these insecticide exposures for
men wanting to have families, Melissa Perry, study author, environmental epidemiologist
and the dean of the College of Public Health
at George Mason University, via NBC News
