December 14, 2008 | Sex Life

The end of masculinity?

If you've been wondering where all the real men have disappeared to, there is growing evidence that the tens of  thousands of unregulated pollutants in our environment are wreaking havoc on the human male reproductive system.

A recent American study showed that baby boys born to women exposed to widespread chemicals in pregnancy are born with smaller penises and feminised genitals. And a European report published this week shows that common chemicals in the environment are feminising males in all types of animals, including humans.

Many of these chemicals have been identified as "endocrine disrupters" – or gender-benders – because they interfere with hormones. These include phthalates, used in food wrapping, cosmetics and baby powders among other applications; flame retardants in furniture and electrical goods; PCBs, which are now banned but still widespread; and many pesticides.

Communities heavily polluted with gender-benders in Canada, Russia and Italy have given birth to twice as many girls than boys. Now that's alarming!

And sperm counts are dropping like a rock.. Studies in more than 20 countries have shown that they have dropped from 150 million per millilitre of sperm fluid to 60 million over the last 50 years. That means guys are still just as full of cum, but they've got a lot fewer "swimmers" in the mix. 

So if you don't already have enough reasons to support a cleaner environment, the threat of less virile and fewer men in the world  should be enough to turn you green.

"It's official: men really are the weaker sex"  [Independent]