Men’s exposure to some compounds common in cosmetics and plastics is associated with sperm abnormalities, a new study suggests. The data don’t establish a causative link between so-called phthalates and aberrant semen, but they bolster the case that phthalate concentrations typically seen in healthy people may have a negative effect on male reproduction.
Scientists have been working for years to understand the causes in developed countries of an apparent half-century-long decline in sperm quality–lower counts, reduced motility, and higher fractions appearing malformed.