Worldwide studies are reporting alarming decreases in human male sperm counts. Mexico’s non-governmental “Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute” (Spanish acronym: CINVESTAV) reported sperm counts in that country dropped 94% between 1939 and 1999. The world’s largest research analysis on sperm counts was done by Copenhagen University in the 1990’s. They analyzed 61 sperm count studies from numerous industrialized countries. In 1940, average sperm counts in men varied according to country of origin, but all were well over 100 million/cc. By the late 1990’s averages were 20 million/cc or less. After ruling out personal factors like occupation, smoking or drinking, host factors such as age and ethnicity, and hot temperatures in various countries, researchers were left with endocrine-disrupting chemicals as the source.

If current industrial trends are maintained, scientists studying the impacts of man-made chemicals predict human males will be infertile by 2050. The main culprits: chemicals with the ability to mimic hormones, particularly the female hormone estrogen. These xenoestrogens disrupt hormone balance in males (and females), and come from many sources including pesticides and fertilizers in foods, plastics, tin-can linings, face creams, dental fillings, exhaust fumes, paints, dioxins, and contraceptive foams, jellies and creams. Heavy metals like cadmium, mercury and lead also decrease both sperm quantity and quality by altering the genetic code within sperm.

Natural estrogens made in the body break down within hours. Man made xenoestrogens stay in the body for years creating hormonal havoc. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, the chemical industry is quick to maintain no one knows for certain what is causing declining sperm counts.

Water is one of the main avenues for xenoestrogens to enter the body. Pesticides and other industrial pollutants end up in the soil and water. Half of all jobs in the world are associated with chlorine use in some way, and chlorine is a major environmental estrogen. Despite the known risks, the British government forced the European Union to lower their standards on pesticides and toxins in drinking water. Companies requiring water in production of their products successfully argued to the British government that regulations were putting a dent on profits and lowering share prices. With governments putting the interests of businesses before human health, it is important to stay informed and avoid known xenoestrogens whenever possible.