Chemical pollution and men’s health: Evidence, policy gaps and the path for prevention

A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) highlights that chemical pollution is fuelling a growing men’s health crisis in Europe. Rates of prostate and testicular cancer, as well as male infertility, continue to rise — with evidence linking these trends to exposure to harmful chemicals such as phthalates, PFAS, pesticides, and microplastics. Alarmingly, exposure even before conception is associated with impacts on children’s health.   

Environmental pollution is harmful to health – not only for the most vulnerable such as children, older people and pregnant women, but also for men. While lifestyle and genetics shape health, the growing burden from chemical pollution demands urgent, science-based policy action.  

On 25 November, HEAL and the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) held a webinar exploring how chemical pollution impacts men’s health, with a special focus on the latest evidence from HEAL’s new report on the topic and ECL’s work on EU-wide action on cancer and a PFAS-free future.