Spring Break
Obesity, pollution affect fertility
Rishi Mehta
Issue date: 4/29/05 Section: Commentary
While obesity threatens the health of sperm, environmental pollutants are affecting the very nature of our sperm. A recent study in Sweden shows organochlorine pollutants have the potential to create a higher proportion of Y chromosomes in sperm. While it remains to be seen if such a change in the ratio of sex chromosomes in sperm will create a disproportionate amount of male children in future generations, the study shows the harmful affect these pollutants are having on the population. Although the study was done in Europe, these pollutants, such as PCBs, dioxin and DDT, are prevalent in America, as they were used for years in commercial and industrial applications prior to being banned. As such, it is reasonable to conclude such environmental pollutants are silently having the same adverse affects on American males as they are on Swedish males.
These two studies together make it clear that the manhood of American men is slowly being attacked. While the immediate perceived threat may be terrorism and all that it entails, we must still guard against such a relentless, slow-moving, sperm-altering enemy. While it's hard to perceive a time in which there can be a joint grass roots and government campaign against this enemy, pollution and obesity may be the very enemies needed to spark the coordination. After all, with the victims comprising approximately 50 percent of the population, the downfall of these enemies is in the best interest of almost all Americans. As our sperm continue to be attacked, our nation must come together against such common enemies.
These two studies together make it clear that the manhood of American men is slowly being attacked. While the immediate perceived threat may be terrorism and all that it entails, we must still guard against such a relentless, slow-moving, sperm-altering enemy. While it's hard to perceive a time in which there can be a joint grass roots and government campaign against this enemy, pollution and obesity may be the very enemies needed to spark the coordination. After all, with the victims comprising approximately 50 percent of the population, the downfall of these enemies is in the best interest of almost all Americans. As our sperm continue to be attacked, our nation must come together against such common enemies.