A new study claims that humanity is at risk from a steep decline in global sperm counts. Scientists are blaming plastics, pollutants and even obesity.
According to The Times:
The research, which drew on data from 53 countries on six continents, showed that average sperm concentrations fell from an estimated 101.2 million per ml in 1973 to 49 million in 2018, — more than 50 per cent — and total sperm counts fell by 62 per cent.
The researchers had reported a similar decline in concentrations in 2017, focusing on Europe, North America and Australia. An update published yesterday was more comprehensive, adding data from 14,233 samples taken in South America, Asia and Africa.
“Our findings serve as a canary in a coal mine,” said Professor Hagai Levine of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, one of the authors of the study, published in Human Reproduction Update.
“We have a serious problem on our hands that, if not mitigated, could threaten mankind’s survival. We urgently call for global action to promote healthier environments for all species and reduce exposures and behaviours that threaten our reproductive health.”
The data suggests that the rate of decline is increasing. Since 1972, sperm concentrations fell by an average of 1.16 per cent each year, but from 2000 to 2018 the rate increased to 2.64 per cent.
Dr Sarah Martins da Silva, reader in reproductive medicine at the University of Dundee, who was not involved in the study, said:
“Exposure to pollution, plastics, smoking, drugs and prescribed medication, as well as lifestyle, such as obesity and poor diet, have all been suggested to be contributory factors although effects are poorly understood and ill-defined.”
