The effects of pollution on human health

In 1938, only around 0.5 % of men were functionally sterile. In 2014, this number had increased 15-fold to 7 %. The projection above is based on the assumption that this trend continues.

Lower male fertility linked to chemicals in our environment

A large number of synthetic chemicals present in the human body have been linked to reduced fertility, lower sperm counts and sterility. Examples include:

• Pesticides can mess with our hormone system can cause reduced fertility.
• Bisphenol A has been linked to sexual dysfunction in men.
• Parabens can interfere with the production of hormones and decrease male sperm counts.
• Phthalates have been linked to reduced male fertility.
• PVC plastics has been linked to damage to hormone and reproductive systems  

A few additional disturbing facts on male infertility:

• Men who live in industrial areas where they are exposed to high levels of chemical pollution have 6 times more abnormal sperm than men living in relatively clean rural towns.
• Men who experience infertility work in pesticide related jobs 10 times more often than men who do not experience infertility.

Chemicals not just affecting men

Of course, chemical pollution is affecting both men and women. All the above-mentioned chemicals are harmful for women as well.

In addition:

• One study found that the risk of infertility is higher for women who are exposed to textile dyes, dry cleaning chemicals, lead, mercury and cadmium.
• Another study found that women working in the rubber, plastics or synthetics industry had an 80 percent greater chance of stillbirth. (The father’s employment in the textile industry - chemical dyes, plastics, formaldehyde, etc. -  resulted in the mothers having a 90 percent greater risk of stillbirth).

What to do to avoid harmful chemicals?

All these chemicals are in the products surrounding us - food, clothing, personal care products, toys, electronics, plastic bottles, furniture and so on and so on.

But we can do a lot to reduce our exposure to chemicals. Pay close attention to the chemicals in the products you buy. There are safer alternatives free of harmful synthetic chemicals for all types of products.