Plastic, Chemicals & Infertility: What we know now

Industrial chemicals that can affect male and female reproductive function are widespread in our environment. Many of these chemicals are used in the plastics that we use in our daily lives. We are also exposed through manufacturing processes, pesticides, and a range of household products, from air fresheners to skin creams. Over the past few decades, a growing body of evidence has found that exposure to these chemicals is linked to many health concerns, such as infertility, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders. 

A new documentary, The Plastic Detox, unfolds the science behind plastics and their health impacts, specifically fertility challenges. This documentary was guided by environmental and reproductive epidemiologist, Dr. Shanna Swan, who conducted a three-month intervention with couples experiencing infertility to “lower daily exposure to plastic-related chemicals in hopes of better health markers, and ultimately, pregnancy.”

In this EDC Strategies Partnership webinar, Dr. Swan will discuss the science behind the movie, details of the “detox” process the participating couples undertook, and how to understand the implications of this experiment. She will also share global trends in sperm count, semen quality, and fertility, and explain why scientists are certain that environmental factors are driving the dramatic increases worldwide. Finally, she will give her perspective on how the global crisis in reproductive health can be addressed through action to reduce or eliminate toxic exposures.