Chemical pollution driving men’s health crisis

A new report commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) warns 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 disorders in sons. 

The health and economic burden is significant: the related costs are estimated to be nearly €15 billion annually. 

The report outlines concerning trends in men’s health: 

• Prostate cancer is now the 3rd most common cancer in men, with 330,000 new cases annually and €9 billion in costs. 
• Testicular cancer has increased by 25% since 2014, particularly among younger men. 
• Male infertility affects up to one in twelve couples, costing €3–4.5 billion a year. 
• Sperm counts have dropped by more than half since the 1970s. 
• Microplastics have been detected in human testicular tissue, with potential links to reduced sperm counts. 
• Parental chemical exposure is increasingly associated with adverse health effects in future generations. 

Across Europe, evidence connects industrial and agricultural pollution to these health impacts — from PFAS-contaminated water in Sweden to pesticide exposure in France and industrial emissions in Poland’s Silesia region. 

The growing burden from chemical pollution demands urgent, science-based policy action. The upcoming REACH revision presents an opportunity for the EU to align chemicals policy with scientific evidence and real-world exposure.

Access the full report: Chemical Pollution and Men’s Health: A Hidden Crisis in Europe