Pesticides found to be enemies of sperm
According to scientists, men's sperm counts have been in a steady decline over the last 50 years. A study that synthesized the results of various research projects has revealed that the cause of this global decline is insecticides. According to the researchers, insecticides can affect human hormones, which may be why sperm counts are decreasing.
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Lead author of the study Lauren Ellis stated, “Understanding how pesticides affect sperm concentration in humans is critical, given their widespread presence in the environment and documented reproductive hazards. Pesticides are a public health issue.”
Data from past studies were brought together on a common ground, taking research limitations into account. Data from 1,774 adult men who had been exposed to the two most commonly used groups of insecticides (organophosphates and N-methyl carbamates) across a total of 21 studies were used.
Regardless of the size of the studies, a decline in sperm concentration was observed in men in every study. It was also noted that the participating men lived in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. In other words, the process is affecting humanity globally.
DROPPED TO 49 MILLION
The research also drew attention to a decline in sperm quality. A 2022 study stated that the sperm count of non-infertile men was 101.2 million in 1973, and this number had dropped to 49 million by 2018. 49 million is within the “normal” sperm density range announced by the World Health Organization.
There are also other factors that affect sperm count and quality. Factors such as stress and air pollution reduce sperm count and quality in both humans and animals. Researchers state that the neurotoxic effects of the active ingredients used in pesticides need to be examined.