A new report commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) investigates how exposure to chemical pollution across Europe is contributing to a growing men’s health crisis.

The report highlights exposure to key chemicals of concern, including endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals (EDCs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, and micro- and nanoplastics.

EDCs are chemicals that disrupt the normal functioning of the hormone (endocrine) system. They have been linked to various adverse health impacts in both men and women, such as certain cancers, reduced fertility and impaired brain development. Examples of EDCs include certain bisphenols, PFAS and phthalates.

The report highlights that rates of prostate and testicular cancer are on the rise, with prostate cancer now the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the EU. Male infertility is widespread, and global sperm counts dropped by 52% between 1973 and 2018. Hormonal disorders in men, such as low testosterone and sexual dysfunction are also becoming more common.

Evidence shows that men working in industrial or agricultural jobs, and those from lower socioeconomic groups, are disproportionately affected by chemical exposure and the associated health impacts.

The report also emphasises the substantial health costs associated with harmful chemical pollution. An estimate from a 2015 analysis suggests EDC-related male reproductive health disorders cost the EU at least €15 billion annually.

The authors call for the upcoming revision of the EU’s main chemicals law, REACH, to strengthen protections for health. Their recommendations include restricting harmful chemicals as a group, to prevent one harmful chemical from being substituted with another, similarly harmful one.

Additionally, the report urges the EU to account for exposure to different harmful chemicals from multiple sources, better reflecting how people are exposed in their daily lives. We are constantly exposed to a complex cocktail of known and suspected harmful chemicals from multiple sources, including air, water, food and consumer products. This is known as the ‘mixture effect’, read more about this in our report, ‘Chemical Cocktails: The neglected threat of toxic mixtures and how to fix it.’

Read more on the EU’s chemical law REACH here.

Read more about how to reduce your risk from harmful chemicals here.

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