The deterioration of
the quality of men’s sperm has been blamed on UV filters that interfere
with the functioning of sperm. These filters are found in sunblock, but
also in food packaging, paint and textiles.
According to scientists at the international research center Edmarc
at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark, men’s sperm contains far less
spermatozoa that it used to some 70-80 years ago. This is at least
partially blamed on chemical UV filters associated with reproduction
disorders in animals and potentially affecting the quality of human
sperm as well.
Edmarc researchers found that 13 of the 29 UV filters approved for use in sunscreen in the EU and the US affected the sperm in a manner similar to the female hormone progesterone, which is used as a homing signal to swim towards eggs, which leads to fertilization failures, Professor Niels Skakkebaeck noted. If the UV filters make spermatozoa confused, it could hypothetically be one of the reasons why and more couples seek help for infertility.“UV filters are among the potentially hormone-destructing chemicals we are exposed to, but they tend to be overlooked in research,” Edmarc Research Director Anna-Maria Andersson told the Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet.
Furthermore, at least four of these sperm-affecting UV filters are known to pass through the skin and into the bloodstream. Once a substance is present in the blood, it may affect the body. In addition, mixing small doses of different UV filters that in itself do not interfere with sperm cells gave the same effect.
Åke Bergman, a professor of Environmental Chemistry and Head of the Swedish Center for Toxicology (Swetox), was not the least amazed by the Danish findings.“This means that together these substances can have a cumulative effect, even if they occur in very low concentrations, a so-called ‘cocktail effect,'” doctoral student Anders Rehfeld said.
“We all know that the skin is a bad barrier for many substances. When applying sunscreen, skin cream or cosmetics, there is a significant danger that substances in them will then proceed into the body,” Åke Bergman said.
Just to show how wide-spread UV filters are,
nine out of ten children exhibited measurable levels of at least one UV
filter in their urine in the summertime. To the researchers’ surprise,
however, many also measured traceable UV filter levels even in winter,
which Anna-Maria Andersson ascribed to the same substances being used
in food packaging, plastics, paints and textiles. A further study
revealed that young women aged 16-21 had the highest levels of UV
filters, which once again was attributed to cosmetics, such as night
cream.
Reprinted from Sputnik News.
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