Environmental Hazards Contribute to Male Infertility

Whether you realize it or not, the environment around you has a big impact on your fertility. Chemicals, toxins, and pesticides can all find their way into your system and wreak havoc. Unfortunately, though, little is actually known about the effects of chemicals and toxins on the male reproductive system. However, because it is easier to evaluate the male reproductive system than the female, the few studies that have been done have generally demonstrated how environmental toxins can contribute to male infertility.

Common Exposure

Even though you may not realize it, everyday you are unwittingly exposed to numerous harmful chemicals. What's worse is the fact that many of these toxins have not actually been thoroughly studied by toxicologists. Moreover, of the chemicals that have been examined, they have often been tested with the assumption that a higher dose results in a more severe effect.

Despite the fact that even low doses of numerous chemicals can do serious damage, often only high chemical levels are studied. However, as it is the low-level of exposure to toxins and chemicals that most people encounter everyday, scientists have finally begun to look at the effects of low-level chemical exposure. Unfortunately, what they are finding is the even a small amount of exposure can have harmful effects on both the male and female reproductive system.

Pesticides

Unlike many other toxins, pesticides are well known to cause health and reproductive problems. In men, prolonged exposure to various pesticides, including kepone, DBCP, and ethylene dibromide, have been found to reduce sperm counts. Other pesticides, particularly DDT and chlordane, have been shown to not only lower a man’s sperm count but also cause damage to the seminiferous tubules in the reproductive system.

While these findings are alarming, it is important to note that many of the studies of pesticide exposure have been conducted on people living in agricultural areas or who regularly work with pesticides. Therefore, these people are much more likely to have a consistent high-level of exposure to the chemicals which the general population wouldn't. But this doesn't mean you are free to roll around on your lawn just after it has been sprayed with pesticides. Studies have also shown that health problems can result even with a low-level of exposure.