Pollution taking a toll on penis size, scientist claims
Fox News
A class of chemicals called phthalates that are often used to make plastics more flexible is exacting a toll on fertility rates and leading to genital malformation, an environmental scientist claims.
Swan’s research began with rats, findings that rat fetuses exposed to the chemical were more likely to be born with shrunken genitals. Later, Swan found that male human fetuses exposed to phthalates resulted in a decreased anogenital distance, a measure associated with penile length, per Sky News. Other findings cited in Swan’s book include a claim that "sperm levels among men in Western countries" declined by over 50%, drawing on hundreds of studies involving nearly 45,000 healthy men. The claim isn’t all too surprising; scientists have previously suggested exposure to the chemical can harm fertility, babies' health, disrupt hormones key for development, and damage the genetic material in sperm. Phthalates have already been banned in many kids' toys over health concerns.More Related News