It has emerged that, certain chemicals found in everyday products we use such as toothpaste, soap and plastic toys are having have an impact on the male fertility—and these are causing rising levels of male infertlity.
According to the research, these chemicals affect the potency of sperm, altering their swimming behaviour and causing them to prematurely release enzymes which are needed to penetrate egg cells.
It looks like nothing is safe around us—by cleaning your teeth, you may be in other ways harming yourself as man.
According to Independent;
One in three “non-toxic” chemicals used in the manufacture of everyday items significantly affected the potency of sperm cells, which may account for the high incidence of unexplained infertility in the human population, the researchers said.
It is the first time that a study has found a direct effect of the many ubiquitous man‑made chemicals in the environment on a vital function of human sperm. The findings will raise further concerns about the hidden toxicity of chemicals deemed safe by toxicology tests.
But the researchers believe they have developed a new way of testing the impact of household chemicals on human sperm which will allow regulatory authorities in Europe to decide whether to ban or impose restrictions on their use in certain products.
The study was part of wider research into so-called “endocrine‑disrupting” chemicals that for several years have been linked with declining sperm counts and widespread male infertility.