Sperm quality in humans has declined by 50% in the past 80 years, according to a study published in Scientific Report.
The study, reported by Futurism, reports also found a similar decline in man’s best friend. “This means that dogs may be an effective model for future research into the effects of pollutants on declining fertility,” Rebecca Sumner, one of the study’s researchers said, “particularly because external influences such as diet are more easily controlled than in humans.”
The University of Nottingham team looked at two human-made chemicals often found in the average person’s home. One chemical, DEHP is an additive often found in carpet, clothes, and toys. The other, polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB153), is an industrial chemical banned in 2001 but is still found in the environment and in both human and dog foods.
When the researchers incubated human and dog sperm with concentrations of the chemicals they found that the same damaging effects appeared in both species sperm.
Researcher Richard Lee said the study’s findings “suggest that man-made chemicals that have been widely used in the home and working environment may be responsible for the fall in sperm quality reported in both man and dog that share the same environment.”
The new findings could help researchers better understand what might be the cause of some infertility issues.
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