Geography 2011A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Semen Analysis, Polycarbonate, Phthalate
5 May 2018
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Disappearing Male
- globally, sperm count has decreased 50% in 50 years
- 85% of male sperm today is considered abnormal
- global increase in male reproductive disorders
- 200% increase in male genital birth defects
- male babies more likely to be miscarried
- synthetic chemicals in virtually every consumer product w/80,000- 90,000 compounds (85% never
tested on human health)...but the impacts they have on male reproduction is well known in wildlife (ex.
alligators)
- ex. Sarnia First Nations Reserve highly exposed to toxic chemicals (petroleum plant right beside
reserve)...sharpest decline in male births ever recorded (1/2 as many as expected...33% male birth, 67%
female birth)
Chemical Industry
- 100 years old modernized the world
- plastic (derived from petroleum)
- phthalates make plastics soft (in personal care products...looks, smells, feels clean and used in
hospitals (PVC vinyl)...no risk perceived)
- bisphenol A make plastics hard (polycarbonate, 7 billion tonnes/year, synthesized in 1891, in
1930s and 1940s it was used as a synthetic estrogen for hormone treatments)
- we encounter about 1000 synthetic chemicals everyday...there are trace amounts of these
chemicals in us (and is accumulating)
- uor hildre at greatest risk the’re eposed to eerthig other is ut e do’t test
these chemicals on growing bodies
- affect endocrine systems (hormonal system) and some chemicals disrupt testosterone = block
development.
Regulation?
- cause harm to a particular person? (industry studies vs. independent studies)
- U.S. has banned 5 chemicals
- public pressure can have impact on sellers, government, etc.
- regulatory system is broken
- depends o alteratie siee, dout, isiforatio
- idustr ad goeret strogl silet... ood told e...hose resposiilit is it?
- need to educate the public
- WHO standard for what is considered
oral sper out has dereased
from 60 million to 40 million to 20
million and now possible to 10 million.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Globally, sperm count has decreased 50% in 50 years. 85% of male sperm today is considered abnormal. Who standard for what is considered (cid:862)(cid:374)or(cid:373)al(cid:863) sper(cid:373) (cid:272)ou(cid:374)t has de(cid:272)reased from 60 million to 40 million to 20 million and now possible to 10 million. 200% increase in male genital birth defects. Male babies more likely to be miscarried. Synthetic chemicals in virtually every consumer product w/80,000- 90,000 compounds (85% never tested on human health)but the impacts they have on male reproduction is well known in wildlife (ex. alligators) Sarnia first nations reserve highly exposed to toxic chemicals (petroleum plant right beside reserve)sharpest decline in male births ever recorded (1/2 as many as expected33% male birth, 67% female birth) 100 years old modernized the world. Phthalates make plastics soft (in personal care productslooks, smells, feels clean and used in hospitals (pvc vinyl)no risk perceived) Bisphenol a make plastics hard (polycarbonate, 7 billion tonnes/year, synthesized in 1891, in.
