How everyday chemicals reduce our fertility

Study: Sperm quality is increasingly declining due to everyday chemicals

Hidden in food, plastics, textiles and cosmetics could be the cause of increasing fertility problems, which are affecting couples in the western world more and more often. A German-Danish research team has recently discovered that certain everyday chemicals affect our hormones and are therefore responsible for the general decline in fertility. In particular, the combination of several chemicals is particularly harmful because the individual effects not only add but also reinforce each other.

Chemicals are used almost everywhere in the production of food, clothing and toiletries. Frequently so-called endocrine disruptors are used. Researchers at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology (CeRA) at the University of Münster have identified a fertility-reducing "cocktail effect" that is caused by everyday chemicals. This effect is triggered by certain chemicals that mimic the action of female hormones and thus affect the swimming behavior of sperm. The study results have recently been published in the journal "human reproduction".

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that are common in everyday products such as food, packaging, clothing, and personal care products. These everyday chemicals have been discussed controversially among experts for quite some time. A new study now shows that these chemicals reinforce each other and even the smallest amounts can affect male fertility. (Image: Christoph Burgstedt / fotolia.com)

Chemicals affect the sperm

As the researchers report, we absorb the smallest amounts of certain chemicals every day. Among them is a group called endocrine disruptors. According to the researchers, these chemicals can affect the sperm already in very low concentrations. Endocrine disruptors have long been suspected of having a negative impact on reproductive ability. The team around Professor Timo Strünker and Professor Niels Erik Skakkebæk could now decipher this effect more precisely.

The cocktail effect of everyday chemicals

"If you combine the chemicals, the individual effects do not just add up, but they mutually reinforce each other considerably," says study leader Dr. Christoph Brenker the results in a press release. In pharmacology, this phenomenon is called "synergism".

One plus one equals three

"One plus one does not make two, but three," explain the researchers. This effect would be particularly evident in the sperm. The interaction, ie the synergy of the various endocrine disruptors would perfectly mimic female hormones and thus influence the sperm, explains Brenker. Among other things, the buoyancy of sperm would be disturbed.

Controversial debate on everyday chemicals

Already in 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) drew attention in a report to the harmful effects of endocrine disruptors. In addition to the negative impact on fertility, the chemicals are also suspected of causing cancer. Nevertheless, they continue to be used in countless products. There is considerable controversy among experts and the public on whether to limit the use of endocrine disruptors in everyday products.

Individual limits ignore the interactions

So far, there are only limits for each individual chemical. Given the new insights that the individual components are mutually reinforcing, the risk potential is underestimated, according to the researchers. The team around Dr. Brenker was able to observe this synergistic cocktail effect not only in sperm, but also in cells and tissues. Health consequences that result are uncertain. (Vb)