As Fertility Rates Fall, Some Scientists Are Blaming Everyday Chemicals

"After months of trying to get pregnant, Kirstie Phillips threw out all her scented candles. She also trashed her body wash, moisturizer and the scented plug-ins she used in her Suffield, Conn., home.

Phillips, a 30-year-old nurse anesthetist, had always taken for granted that she would conceive easily. But when doctors discovered that her ovaries weren't functioning properly, Phillips became convinced by chatter on a Facebook group -- and scientific papers she subsequently looked up -- that synthetic chemicals found in everyday consumer products were to blame.

Two years after reducing her exposure to chemicals, Phillips, with the help of artificial insemination, gave birth to a son. Ten months later, she was pregnant again, this time naturally. She is certain her lifestyle change made the difference. "I don't have proof but I can't think of anything else," she said.

Fertility rates around the world are declining, including in the U.S., where the total fertility rate last year fell to the lowest on record.

Many scientists believe chemicals found in everyday products could be a factor, with a growing body of research showing potential negative effects for male and female reproductive systems, from exposure even in tiny amounts.

"The power of these chemicals to impact fertility is mind boggling," says Patricia Hunt, a professor at the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University. "We have all sorts of evidence that indicates: 'Whoa, we're in serious trouble here.'"

The scrutiny runs parallel to rising skepticism about traditional explanations for various health-related quandaries -- perhaps most prominently embodied in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to run the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has for years contended that man-made chemicals are affecting fertility.

The chemicals Hunt and other scientists are concerned about are called endocrine disrupters because they mimic or block the hormones responsible for many of the body's essential functions, including reproduction. They can be found in everything from plastic packaging and toys to sofa covers and cosmetics.

On Wednesday, the state of Texas cited adverse reproductive effects in a lawsuit against several manufacturers, alleging they falsely advertised their chemical products as safe for ordinary household products.

The chemical industry disputes that its products, at the levels humans are typically exposed to, are linked to adverse health outcomes.

The American Chemistry Council says fertility is influenced by multiple factors and that its members "undertake extensive scientific analyses to evaluate the potential risk of their chemicals, from development through use and safe disposal."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists "interference with reproduction" as one of the possible adverse effects from exposure to chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system.

There are a number of factors involved in declining fertility, researchers say, including women choosing to have babies later in life and more couples choosing not to have children at all.

Among the chemical classes researchers have linked to lower fertility are PFAS -- found in everything from drinking water and nonstick cookware to takeout containers.

Last year, Mount Sinai researchers concluded that higher blood concentrations of certain PFAS were associated with a significant reduction in the likelihood of pregnancy and live births.

Other studies have shown that certain PFAS can disrupt reproductive hormones and delay puberty and have been linked with increased risks for polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.

Bisphenol-A -- a chemical widely used to line drinks cans -- has also been linked to fertility issues in women. In men, studies have linked BPA to poor semen quality, undescended testicles and testicular cancer. In 2023, Europe's top food regulator formally proposed slashing what it calls "the tolerable daily intake" for BPA by 20,000 times.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said it is considering a petition from some U.S. scientists to follow suit. When it comes to PFAS, the FDA says it is currently working to better understand how exposed Americans are to the chemicals in food.

Another class of chemicals are phthalates, found in scented products of the kind Kirstie Phillips threw away, and in certain plastics. Studies have linked phthalates to lower egg yields in women." [1]

1. U.S. News: As Fertility Rates Fall, Some Scientists Are Blaming Everyday Chemicals. Chaudhuri, Saabira.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 16 Dec 2024: A.3.