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FT Edit presents: Global sperm counts are falling. This scientist believes she knows why

Life and Art from FT Weekend

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The Ass Ball Connector: A Slang Term for Anogenital Distance

Since the late 1930s, sperm counts around the world appear to have dropped significantly. Shana Swan believes she knows why and has devoted her life to studying the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) These include pesticides, bisphenols that harden plastics, so can be used in food storage containers and baby bottles,. phthalates that soften plastic for its use in packaging and products such as garden houses. In recent years, traces of EDCs have been found in breast milk, placental tissue, urine, blood, and seminal fluid.

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