|
Q9: Is it true that endocrine disruptors
reduce the human sperm count? |
| A9: |
| Decrease in sperm count of adults and increase in testicular tumor
and scrotal hypospadias have been reported for the period of 1950-1980.
Carlsen et al. reported recent decrease in sperm count by as much as 50%
for 61 cases in Denmark. On the other hand, a similar research project
in Finland found no such decrease for a period of 20 years, and a U. S.
investigation, equally ranging over 20 years, showed no decrease but a
large regional difference in sperm count. However, none of these
findings can definitely correlated with exposure to endocrine
disruptors. Urologists specialized in male infertility have pointed out
that the sperm count is readily influenced by pathological and
physiological factors, and that various technical difficulties in sperm
count determination have yet to be overcome. A collaborative research program involving Danish, Finnish, Scottish, French and Japanese specialists is underway to perform international comparison of relevant data by unified test methods. |