A new report published by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) details the evidence linking chemical pollution — including endocrine disrupting chemicals — to the growing men’s health crisis in Europe.
In short:
- Exposure to industrial and agricultural chemicals has been linked to testicular cancer, infertility, sexual dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances in men.
- Chemical exposure has also been linked to prostate cancer, now the 3rd most common cancer in men.
- Chemical pollutants also impact future generations, with both paternal and maternal exposures linked to reproductive disorders in male offspring.
Key quote:
“Human health, including the health of men, is a mirror of our chemical environment. Europe’s regulatory choices will determine whether the next generation live in a cleaner, healthier world — or face escalating infertility, hormonal disease, and reproductive harm. The evidence is clear, and the time to act is now.”
Why this matters:
Individuals around the globe are constantly exposed to a wide variety of chemicals through interactions with the environment, consumer products, and even their food and water supply. Very few of these chemicals are properly regulated, but studies have shown that policy interventions can be an effective tool to decrease chemical exposure with widespread impact. The authors of this report highlight the importance of supporting strong, science-based regulations — such as the upcoming revision of the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation — as an essential means of improving public health and protecting future generations.
Related EHN coverage:
- The chemical industry may have killed a landmark EU chemical policy. Here’s what that means for the US.
- Chemical exposures before conception can impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes, study finds
- Scientists: Insufficient chemical regulations put public and environmental health at risk
More resources:
- HEAL: Health-focused REACH reform
- HEAL: Chemical pollution driving men’s health crisis — stronger EU action needed
- Men’s fertility is under threat from everyday chemicals ›
- How pollution is causing a male fertility crisis ›
