A recent review published in Reproductive Toxicology found that environmental factors — including plastic chemicals like phthalates, electromagnetic radiation, and heavy metals — can significantly impact male reproductive health by altering sperm epigenetics.
In short:
- Studies have found that these common environmental exposures can cause sperm DNA damage, impacting epigenetics crucial to controlling the creation of new sperm, ensuring normal sperm form and function, and fertilization.
- Heavy metals such as zinc, cadmium, arsenic, copper, and lead can accumulate in the body and lead to oxidative damage of sperm DNA, disrupting sperm development and maturation.
- Exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by wireless devices and cellphones has also been linked to reduced sperm count, impaired motility, and oxidative stress that alters epigenetics.
Key quote:
“Men should avoid placing mobile phones near the trousers pocket or close to the testicles to prevent potential harmful effects of radiofrequency radiation on the male reproductive system.”
Why this matters:
Male infertility has become an increasingly pressing public health issue, with up to 30% of global cases of infertility caused by male factors alone. While genetics play a role in male reproductive health, environmental exposures and lifestyle also contribute to male fertility, not only affecting sperm quality, but also altering gene expression in ways that may impact future generations. Exposure to many of the environmental hazards examined in this review — such as phthalates in consumer products and electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by cell phones and electronics — is widespread and difficult to avoid, highlighting the need for more protective regulations.
Related EHN coverage:
- Cell phone radiation can harm sperm and testes in animals
- Microplastic exposure linked to reduced sperm quality in humans
- DDT exposure linked to changes in sperm that could be passed to future generations
More resources:
- WATCH: Dr. Shanna Swan on chemicals, hormones and our reproductive health
- WATCH: Science on the health risks of wireless electromagnetic radiation by Dr. Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences
