Forty-three percent of 700 Danish army recruits tested have sperm counts so low that they could have trouble fathering children, according to research published in the journal Human Reproduction. The study authors, who can’t explain the low sperm concentrations, say other research indicates that male reproductive function seems to have deteriorated considerably in the past 40 or 50 years. The World Wildlife Fund and other enviros say the problems may be caused by exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with the body’s hormonal control systems, such as phthalates and Bisphenol A, which are used in many plastic products.
