The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has published a new report that analyses the relationship between exposure to chemicals present in the environment and different aspects of men’s health in Europe. The document compiles scientific evidence on the possible association between specific compounds (such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), persistent pollutants, and microplastics) and effects on reproductive and hormonal health.
According to the report by HEAL, of which Salud por Derecho is a member and currently holds the presidency, the European population is exposed every day to chemicals through food, drinking water, air, personal care products, and occupational environments. Among the most common are phthalates, PFAS, bisphenols, and various pesticides. Microplastics have also been detected in human biological samples, and some studies suggest that they may influence hormonal or reproductive processes. Both maternal and paternal exposure can have implications for reproductive health and the development of future generations.
Data from Spain show a steady decline in sperm quality, with the share of normally shaped sperm dropping by around 0.7% per year and motility falling by about 0.57%. Around 147 men per 100,000 are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 6.5 per 100,000 with testicular cancer. Regional patterns suggest that men living in areas with higher exposure to BPA from plastics, agricultural pesticides, and heavy metals are the most affected.
Across Europe, prostate cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, with around 330,000 cases each year, and testicular cancer has increased among younger men in several regions. Sperm counts have fallen by more than half since 1973, and the costs associated with the health impacts of chemical exposure are estimated at around €15 billion per year, including healthcare, loss of productivity, and disability.
The report author Dr. Rossella Cannarella, MD, PhD, an Endocrinology specialist and Clinical Andrologist comments: “In men, the testes, prostate, and hormone system are uniquely sensitive to chemical exposures, especially during early development and the reproductive years. Across Europe, the evidence is consistent and alarming: prostate and testicular cancers are rising, sperm quality has fallen by more than half in the past decades, and hormonal disorders are becoming more common. Many of these trends correlate with exposure to harmful chemicals that are still too prevalent and increasing in our daily environment.”
HEAL highlights that the upcoming revision of the EU chemicals regulation REACH represents an opportunity to strengthen public health protection and align with other EU strategies such as the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
“These findings are deeply concerning for public health. We must act to protect future generations by strengthening European chemical safety laws, such as REACH, and reducing everyday exposure to harmful substances in our environment. Everyone deserves the right to a healthy life, free from preventable chemical risks”, said Vanessa López, Director of Salud por Derecho and President of HEAL.
If you want to learn more, you can read the report at this link.
