PLASTIC WASTE THE NEW BIRTH CONTROL ?

Although plastic has only existed for 60-70 years, it can be found in every corner of the globe. That’s because it can take hundreds of years to break down, if it does at all, according to the WWF. When plastic does decompose, it breaks down into tiny little pieces called micro or nano plastics and can release hazardous chemicals into the environment. A study by the University of Newcastle found that the average person may be eating, drinking and breathing in up to five grams of plastic per week — the equivalent to a credit card. The health implications of consuming so much plastic are still being studied, but scientists warn it could have an impact on our health and that of future generations. The average sperm count in Western men has been halved over the last 40 years. Dr Shanna Swan, Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at Mount Sinai school of medicine in New York, says plastic is likely a significant factor behind that decline. A 2022 European study found that men have “astonishing levels,” up to 100 times more than considered safe, of a cocktail of chemicals in their bodies. Bisphenol A (BPA), found in plastic, was responsible for the highest risk and is the most worrying chemical. Sperm count isn’t the only determinant of fertility; semen quality matters too. The same European study found that this common chemical cocktail was linked to poor semen quality in 100 Danish men. BPA was the biggest driver of risk, followed by dioxins (released in the air when waste is burnt), paracetamol (like Tylenol) and phthalates (also from plastics). Dr Swan says one of the biggest dangers to male fertility are phthalates, chemicals added to plastics to make them more flexible. They are particularly risky because they’ve been shown to lower testosterone. Maybe future birth control pills will be sugar coated plastic nano particles.