Chemical additives, termed endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), can compromise male fertility by interfering with a membrane-bound calcium channel that normally controls motility of sperm cells. Here there is a problem since EDCs are used in hundreds of household products — including toothpastes, sunscreens, cosmetics, plastic bottles, and toys — and scientists determined that they can cause fertility problems in
previous studies.
A new study
published in the journal
EMBO Reports, details how the chemical additives affect fertility in the human reproductive tract. The paper is titled "Direct action of endocrine disrupting chemicals on human sperm."
Copenhagen University Hospital researcher Niels Skakkebaek, who lead the study, said in a research brief: "For the first time, we have shown a direct link between exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals from industrial products and adverse effects on human sperm function."
How did Skakkebaek arrive at this conclusion? According
to CNN his research group tested 96 EDCs and found that about a third of them disrupted the function of an ion channel, called CatSper, in the membranes of sperm cells. This increased concentration of calcium ions changed the swimming behavior of the sperm, triggering the premature release of digestive enzymes that sperm need to breach the outer layers of egg cells, thus affecting fertility.
According to
The Guardian, this issue will lead to further debate between scientists, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, and policy makers.
