Teenage exposure to pesticides may lead to abnormal sperm, new study says

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/gwum-tet102715.php

Public Release: 4-Nov-2015
Teenage exposure to pesticides may lead to abnormal sperm, new study says
George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health

Adolescent exposure to environmental pollutants known as organochlorines may lead to defective sperm, according to a study published today by researchers at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University and co-authors. The research is the first to look for associations between exposure to these chemicals in the teenage years and abnormalities in sperm that are associated with fertility problems later in life.

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Organochlorine pesticides such as DDT were used extensively through the 1960s and are now banned in the United States. However, they are still used in some tropical countries and even in places that don't use them anymore these chemicals still linger in the soil and water. People in the United States can be exposed to these pollutants by eating a diet with lots of meat, dairy and fatty fish.

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At the same time, she says that the research findings also raise important issues for policymakers who regulate the use of pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals. "This study, and others like it, suggest that any decisions about putting biologically active chemicals into the environment must be made very carefully as there can be unanticipated consequences down the road."