Cocktail of chemical pollutants linked to falling sperm quality in research

There had been an alarming decline in sperm counts and concentration in western countries over decades, the scientists said. Photograph: The Science Picture Company/Alamy

A cocktail of chemical pollutants measured in people’s bodies has been linked to falling semen quality by new research.

Chemicals such as bisphenols and dioxins are thought to interfere with hormones and damage sperm quality, and the study found combinations of these compounds are present at “astonishing” levels, up to 100 times those considered safe.