Pesticides wreak havoc on reproductive health in men

Thursday, March 03, 2011 by: T.M. Hartle
Tags: pesticides, reproductive health, health news

(NewsTarget) Reports from European countries have found sub-fertile semen quality in 1 out of 5 young men ages 18 to 25. Research has also shown increasing rates of testicular cancer, un-descended testes in babies, and other hormone-related problems in men. Fertility and reproductive health is declining in men and has been over the last 50 years according to recent reports. The cause of this decline in health is multi-factorial, but research continues to expose agribusiness chemicals as potent hormone disruptors. The evidence of declining male reproductive health in connection with commonly used agricultural chemicals is found in a host of scientific research that has spanned decades.

Research found that men with high levels of three common pesticides in their urine were 10 times as likely to have low sperm quality. The conclusions of the study suggested that common weed killers including alachlor, atrazine and diazinon harm the reproductive health of men, who drink water contaminated with these common chemicals.

Several studies published in late 2010 found that many pesticides and fungicides used on the food supply impaired testosterone synthesis. Despite the evidence that these chemicals have the potential to cause serious reproductive harm no action is being taken. As the scientific literature exposes the dark side of our chemical laden society, the government barely takes notice and the use of these chemicals continues. The evidence from this research deserves the attention of researchers, government regulatory agencies, and the agricultural community.

There is strong evidence that agribusiness chemicals have anti-androgen and hormone disrupting properties, and this certainly is a major contributing factor to the declining reproductive health in men. The declining sperm count and rising reproductive impairment in developed countries has a myriad of causes. There are many contributing factors in food packaging, chemicals used in food production, plastics and a host of other factors in the environment. Despite the reality that there is no simple, one answer solution to the declining reproductive health in men, action should be taken when significant contributing factors are identified.

The use of toxic chemicals is based on increasing profitability, not public health. However, the general public does not have to be at the mercy of agribusiness. Men can take a stand and protect their reproductive health by supporting organic agriculture, avoiding processed foods, drinking only pure water filtered to remove contaminants, or joining the local community supported agriculture. If there is a shift in profitability because of a larger demand for organically produced food, there will be a movement toward safer, organic, and sustainable food production practices in order to follow public demand. The greatest tool for change in food production is in our wallet.

sources:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-n...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21117141
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20708073
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11...
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/378...

About the author

T.M. Hartle has a Bachelors degree in Natural Health Science with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition as well as a Certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from Cornell University. She is a student midwife who teaches pregnancy nutrition courses to midwives and childbirth educators throughout the country. She has a certificate in the Essentials of raw culinary arts from Living Light Culinary Arts Institute and is the Owner and Chef of The Peaceful Kitchen. http://www.thepeacefulkitchen.blogspot.com
http://www.kid-healthy-recipes.com
http://www.healthydietplanrecipes.com