A leading reproductive scientist, Dr. Shanna Swan, has sounded the alarm on the alarming decline in sperm counts worldwide, warning that action must be taken to curb the use of plastic additives linked to plummeting sperm counts.
According to Swan, professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, environmental factors play the most significant role in the decline.
“The decline was largely, but not entirely due to toxins in the environment that have the ability to interfere with steroid hormones,” Swan emphasized.
Studies have shown a significant decline in sperm counts over the past 50 years, with a rate of decline of about 1% per year.
However, Swan’s research revealed that the rate of decline has increased significantly in recent years, with studies published after 2000 showing an over 2% decline.
“We separated the countries into western and non-western for analytic purposes, and in both, we found a significant decline,” Swan said.
The link between plastic additives and falling sperm counts is well-established. Swan pointed out that phthalates and bisphenols, common additives to plastics, have been linked to reproductive health issues.
“Phthalates are chemicals that are put into plastic to give it flexibility and make it soft and flexible,” Swan explained. “Then, on the other side, the evil twin of phthalates are the bisphenols. While phthalates make plastic soft and flexible, bisphenols make it hard and inflexible. And phthalates lower testosterone and the bisphenols increase estrogen.”
The effects of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals are particularly profound on fetuses and embryos developing in the womb.
Swan’s previous research found that exposure to phthalates at a critical point in gestation could lead to subtle deformities in sexual development.
The adverse effects of phthalates in the womb, known as “phthalate syndrome,” included smaller penises, a shorter distance between the genitals and anus, and lowered sperm counts.
Swan stressed the urgent need for safer replacements for plastic additives. “In the meantime, yes people can be careful,” she said. “They can reuse materials. They should try to look at what they use in their takeout containers and carry little glass bottles around to get their drinks. It’s very important. But it’s not solving a bigger problem, which is how do we make these things that we have become dependent on in a safer way?”
The collapse of global pollution treaty talks due to splits over chemical regulation has cast a shadow over efforts to address the issue.
Almost 100 nations had signed a declaration calling for a “legally binding obligation to phase out those most harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern.” However, oil- and gas-producing nations objected to calls for limits to production and curbs on chemicals.
Experts agree that reducing plastic exposure is crucial. Simple steps like using glass or stainless steel containers, avoiding microwaving plastics, and opting for natural fibers in clothing can significantly reduce exposure risks. Moreover, policymakers must recognize the role of plastic pollution in adverse health effects and take action to mitigate these impacts.
Key Findings:
- Decline in Sperm Counts: Sperm counts have been declining at a rate of about 1% per year for the past 50 years, with a significant increase in the rate of decline in recent years.
- Link to Plastic Additives: Phthalates and bisphenols, common additives to plastics, have been linked to reproductive health issues, including falling sperm counts.
- Effects on Fetal Development: Exposure to phthalates at a critical point in gestation can lead to subtle deformities in sexual development.
- Need for Safer Replacements: There is an urgent need for safer replacements for plastic additives to mitigate the adverse effects on human health.
