Chemical Toxins Lower Testosterone in Men

Research appearing in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Vol. 92, No. 1 196-202) observed declining levels of testosterone that do not seem to be attributed to health or lifestyle. The authors concluded that, “These results indicate that recent years have seen a substantial, and as yet unrecognized, age-independent population-level decrease in T in American men, potentially attributable to birth cohort differences or to health or environmental effects not captured in observed data.” One possible explanation of the lower testosterone levels is chemicals in the environment. Studies have found environmental impacts on testosterone levels. For example, testosterone levels were lower in US Air Force veterans exposed to dioxins (Environmental Health Perspectives, Nov. 2006, vol. 114, #11). Testosterone levels were also lower in men exposed to phthalates at work (Environmental Health Perspectives, Nov. 2006, vol. 114, #11). Exposure to BPA (biphenol A) is linked to prostate cancer.

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