Food Contaminants
pesticides causes global sperm count decline
In plain terms: Are pesticides causing the global decline in sperm counts?
Insufficient Food Contaminants
Part of: 🔍 pesticides in food
RefutedContestedStrong support
consensus score 0.00
⚖️ Thin evidence — read the needle loosely. The score shows which way the studies lean, but there are too few independent, high-quality ones to place it firmly. Expect this to move as better evidence arrives.
Forty-seven studies, and not one tests this. Around a dozen ask whether sperm counts are really falling, which is itself disputed. The rest show pesticides can harm sperm in heavily exposed men. Nobody has joined the two together, or worked out how much of any decline pesticides would account for.
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-29 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
MechanismIn-vitroAnimalObservationalRCTMeta-analysis
How the studies fall
0 support 0 contradict 0 tested null 43 mixed · 43 sources, 0 independent groups
What the evidence shows
This is an attribution claim, and it has never actually been tested. The literature splits into two piles that never meet. One pile asks whether a secular decline is real: pooled meta-regressions report one, a substantial methodological critique disputes it, and regional series from Ireland, Beijing and India point the other way.
The evidence (47)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirican EK 2026 · Reprod Biomed Online | observational | mixed | low | Narrative review, not evidence: 'This narrative review synthesizes epidemiological evidence with evolutionary biology ... and molecular epigenetics'; restates meta-analytic ~50% decline since the 1970s; no pesticide exposure-outcome data. Review — zero weight. |
| Martenies SE, Perry MJ 2013 · Toxicology | observational | mixed | low | PART (2). SR of studies 2007-2012, 17 studies (15/17 reporting a significant association), ENVIRONMENTAL/OCCUPATIONAL exposure to DDT, HCH, abamectin, pyrethroids and organophosphates; concentration most commonly reduced. Exposed-population |
| Ren YL, Chen K, Li Y, Jia YZ, Wang H, Wang L 2026 · Journal of hazardous materials | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Mouse model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing (dose not stated in abstract), chronic 24-week glyphosate exposure: damaged seminiferous tubules and acrosomal biogenesis via Golgi-fragmentation ('Golgiphagy', GOLPH3-mediated) mechanism. Mechanis |
| Al-Azzam A, Darmani H 2026 · Journal of applied toxicology : JAT | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL oral dosing via drinking water, glyphosate-based herbicide x30 days at 55 ug/kg/day (~0.7 mg/L, authors' consumer-relevant estimate) and ~6 mg/kg/day; both doses reduced fertility (more embryonic resorption |
| Akhigbe RE, Oyedokun PA, Akhigbe TM, Adenike S, Oladipo AA, Hughes JR 2024 · Frontiers in toxicology | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | PART (2). SR/MA of 12 cross-sectional studies (n=2050; China/Japan/Poland/US), OCCUPATIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL pyrethroid exposure. Reduced motility overall but concentration effect direction was inconsistent (down in Poland, UP in US) -- an exp |
| Ahmed MA, Kandeel AA, Tawfik WS 2026 · Scientific reports | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Mouse model, EXPERIMENTAL oral dosing, nano-emulsified chlorpyrifos (organophosphate insecticide) 3.79-15.16 mg/kg/day x35 days: dose-dependent reductions in GSI, fertility (zero at high dose), sperm viability (74%->43.1%), testos |
| Azmi OE, Abdel-Wahab A, Abdel-Rahman MAM, Gamal A, Ibrahim MA, Ahmed OM, Abdel-Razik AH, Ali S, El-Gendy AAM 2026 · Scientific reports | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL ORAL dosing, atrazine (herbicide) x56 days: reduced motility/viability/morphology/count, lowered testosterone/FSH/LH, raised MDA, suppressed antioxidant enzymes and steroidogenic genes; niosomal L-carnitine |
| Wen Z et al 2026 · preprint | in-vitro | mixed | moderate | PART (2). In-vitro, normal human spermatozoa incubated with thiram (dithiocarbamate FUNGICIDE) at concentrations the authors describe as environmentally relevant; EC50 for motility/hyperactivation suppression <5 uM, ROS/H2O2 EC50 0.9-1.4 uM |
| Rajabzadeh O, Yaghoubi A 2026 · Scientific reports | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, permethrin (pyrethroid insecticide) 35 mg/kg/day x60 days: TEM-level ultrastructural damage (mitochondrial swelling, Sertoli-cell detachment), reduced motility/viability, raised abnormalities, suppr |
| Merzenich H, Zeeb H, Blettner M 2010 · BMC public health | observational | mixed | low | PART (1) only -- methodological critique. Argues the Carlsen 1992/2000 meta-analyses combining heterogeneous, poorly-defined populations across countries/eras/methods overstate a global decline; calls for well-designed population-based pros |
| La Vignera S, Condorelli RA 2026 · Antioxidants (Basel) | observational | mixed | low | Narrative review, not evidence: 'This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence on the global decline in sperm count and testosterone levels'; cites the 51.6% decline 1973-2018 from a prior meta-analysis [8] and lists pesticides among suspected EDCs without attribution. Review — zero weight. |
| Saad HM, Ashoura NR, Salama AR, Wasef LG, Elrehim AMA, Essa BH, Saleh NA, Elsawasany A, Awad AA 2026 · Scientific reports | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, rotenone (botanical pesticide/complex-I inhibitor) 3 mg/kg 3x/week x60 days: hormonal imbalance, oxidative damage, inflammation, apoptosis; Chasteberry extract co-treatment restored sperm morphology |
| Perry MJ 2008 · Human reproduction update | observational | mixed | low | PART (2). SR to ~2008: 20 semen-quality studies (13/20 positive), 6 DNA-damage studies (3/6 positive), 6 aneuploidy studies (4/6 positive); ENVIRONMENTAL/OCCUPATIONAL pesticide exposure. Authors themselves call the evidence 'equivocal' -- n |
| Lismer A et al 2022 · preprint | observational | mixed | low | PART (2). Preprint (later published as pmid:38294233), same design: 49 South African + Greenlandic Inuit men, RESIDENTIAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DDT-metabolite exposure (mean p,p'-DDE ~10,462 ng/g lipid, cross-population range). Altered sperm epigen |
| Shahid MR, Mehmood MS, Hussain S, Afzal M, Sani SS, Adnan M, Asif M, Rafique A 2026 · Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, paraquat (herbicide) 2 mg/kg x8 weeks: reduced antioxidant enzymes, raised ROS/MDA, reduced sperm count/motility/viability and testicular weight; selenium co-treatment protective. Animal toxicology |
| El-Demerdash FM, Baraghit NM, El-Sayed RA, Baghdadi HH 2026 · Scientific Reports | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL oral dosing, lambda-cyhalothrin (pyrethroid, 8 mg/kg) + thiamethoxam (neonicotinoid, 156 mg/kg) x21 days: combination altered body weight/GSI/sperm quality/hormones/oxidative markers and disrupted blood-tes |
| Knapke ET, Magalhaes DP, Dalvie MA, Mandrioli D, Perry MJ 2022 · Toxicology | observational | mixed | moderate | PART (2). Navigation Guide SR, 19 studies (18 cross-sectional/1 cohort, n=42-2122, 14 countries), ENVIRONMENTAL/OCCUPATIONAL pesticide exposure. Rated 'sufficient evidence of toxicity' for motility (63% of studies) and DNA integrity (80%) |
| de Assis S et al 2026 · preprint | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Mouse model, EXPERIMENTAL zygotic-injection paradigm: sperm-RNA cargo from DDT-treated males altered placental function/fetal growth (opposite direction to obesity-derived sperm RNA). Transgenerational mechanistic model, not a spe |
| Zhong M, Zhai Q, Zhang R, Yin H, Li J, Ma Z, Fang L, Zhang C, Li Y 2021 · Toxicology and industrial health | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). MA of 19 rat studies, EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL dosing of pyrethroids (fenvalerate, cypermethrin, deltamethrin; doses not given in abstract). Reduced sperm count/motility/testosterone and abnormal morphology vs controls -- animal toxico |
| Seif M, Wei B, Wang H, Madboli AA, Marrez DA, Emam M 2026 · Environmental toxicology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, pyriproxyfen (juvenile-hormone-analog insecticide) 20 mg/kg: reduced testosterone, sperm count/motility, increased abnormalities via Nrf2/NF-kB pathway disruption; Ephedra extract co-treatment prote |
| Omolaoye TS, Lakshmanan J, Abu Hijleh A, Aslam I, Du Plessis SS 2026 · Frontiers in physiology | observational | mixed | moderate | PART (1) only. Retrospective, 13,276 samples/2,730 Emirati men, UAE fertility clinic 2012-2022. Volume/concentration/total sperm count dipped in 2016 then partially recovered; motility declined steadily (6-17%/yr). No exposure data collecte |
| Levine H, Jørgensen N, Martino-Andrade A, Mendiola J, Weksler-Derri D, Mindlis I, Pinotti R, Swan SH 2017 · Human reproduction update | meta-analysis | mixed | high | PART (1) only. Levine et al. 2017 original meta-regression, 185 studies/244 estimates (n=42,935), 1973-2011: sperm concentration declined 1.4%/yr (52.4% overall) among Unselected-Western men, no significant trend in 'Other' (S. America/Asia |
| Qi Y, Shi J, Zhang Q, Xuan Y, Zhang H, Duan Y 2026 · Translational andrology and urology | observational | mixed | low | Narrative review, not evidence: 'We present this article in accordance with the Narrative Review reporting checklist'; 'We finally included 82 publications that were relevant to our topic.' Pesticides are one keyword among many; no estimate of the population-level decline. Review — zero weight. |
| da Costa IR, Quadreli DH, da Silva LMM, de Andrade FG, Fernandes GSA 2026 · Environmental toxicology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL oral dosing, chlorpyrifos 5 or 15 mg/kg x40 days during peripuberty: altered epididymal compartments, increased sperm transit time, decreased mitochondrial activity, decreased GST activity; sperm MOTILITY u |
| Benkhalifa M, Zidi W, Lahimer M, Cabry R, Benkhalifa M, Bahri H 2026 · Reproduction & fertility | observational | mixed | moderate | PART (1) only. Retrospective, 21,585 men, Tunisia/Algeria/Libya, 2019-2024 vs. 2013-2018 historical cohort: concentration -27.6%, motility -20.5%, normal morphology 12.1%->5%. No exposure data -- regional decline-reality study only. |
| Cofone L, Pindinello I, D'Ancona G, Grassi F, Antonucci A, Vitali M, Protano C 2023 · Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita | observational | mixed | low | PART (2). SR of 21 human-biomonitoring studies (urine/blood) pooling pesticides with phthalates, bisphenols, PCBs, PAHs and heavy metals under OCCUPATIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL exposure; reports a positive correlation between pollutant burden and |
| Guimarães-Ervilha LO, Lopes IDS, Assis MQ, Bento IPDS, Iasbik-Lima T, Faria JVL, Almeida LMR, Carvalho RPR, Coimbra JLP, Silva RCD, Soares FAF, Toma APMF, Costa GMJ, Clarindo WR, Machado-Neves M 2026 · Toxicology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, commercial atrazine-mesotrione mixture (Calaris) 2 or 20 mg/kg x80 days: high dose caused nitrosative stress, low LH, disrupted testicular mineral homeostasis/DNA damage, low sperm motility/mitochon |
| Fouda HM, Yosef TA, Abd El-Rheem SM, Almadaly EA, Hegazy HM 2026 · Frontiers in veterinary science | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL oral dosing, acetamiprid (neonicotinoid insecticide) 21.7 mg/kg x9 weeks: reduced sperm characteristics and antioxidant enzymes, raised testicular MDA and DNA damage; Chlorella vulgaris co-treatment protect |
| Virmani I et al 2026 · Archives of toxicology | in-vitro | mixed | low | PART (2). In-vitro murine Sertoli TM4 cell line, EXPERIMENTAL dosing 5-50 ug/mL organochlorine mixture (20 persistent contaminants incl. PCBs/chlordane/DDT-DDE, modeled on Arctic seal-blubber exposure profile): disrupted lipid homeostasis a |
| Sengupta P, Borges E, Dutta S, Krajewska-Kulak E 2018 · Human & experimental toxicology | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | PART (1) only. European studies 1940s-2010s; time-dependent decline in sperm concentration (r=-0.307, p=0.02), 32.5% mean decrease. Tests whether the decline is real; no exposure or attribution data. |
| Fu L, Fang F, Zhou F, Guo Y, Wang S, Ma J, Gu Y, Lu W, Liu Y 2026 · Frontiers in public health | observational | mixed | moderate | PART (1) only. Retrospective, 5,886 donor samples, Beijing Sperm Bank 2011-2018: sperm concentration and total count INCREASED (+12.3%, +18.7%) coinciding with China's 2013-2017 Air Pollution Action Plan; correlated with AIR/WATER pollutant |
| Pedarpoor Vajargah S, Farokhi F, Sadeghi A 2026 · Avicenna journal of phytomedicine | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Mouse model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, paraquat (herbicide) 20-40 mg/kg/day x30 days: reduced testicular weight/GSI/sperm count/viability/motility/morphology and testosterone; saffron extract co-treatment protective. High-dose animal t |
| Wang QH, Ye JJ, Chen ZY, Zhang CC, Liao XY, Zheng L, Chen K, Tu X, Liu LR, Wei Q, Bao YG 2026 · Asian journal of andrology | meta-analysis | mixed | low | Umbrella review, units are syntheses: 'this study integrates all available meta-analyses on this subject'; 'A total of 43 studies were included, covering 67 risk factors associated with infertility and abnormal sperm parameters.' Lists 'exposure to pollutants and various compounds (carbon disulfide, organophosphates, and lead)' among factors lowering semen quality; organophosphate estimates are Giulioni 2021's. Nothing on the secular decline. Review — zero weight. |
| Lismer A, Shao X, Dumargne MC, Lafleur C, Lambrot R, Chan D, Toft G, Bonde JP, MacFarlane AJ, Bornman R, Aneck-Hahn N, Patrick S, Bailey JM, de Jager C, Dumeaux V, Trasler JM, Kimmins S 2024 · Environmental health perspectives | observational | mixed | low | PART (2). Cross-sectional, 50 South African VhaVenda + 47 Greenlandic Inuit men; RESIDENTIAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DDT-metabolite (p,p'-DDE) exposure via indoor spraying/food chain (mean serum 870.7 ng/mL). Dose-response-like altered sperm DNA meth |
| Martins-Santos E, Oliveira CA 2026 · Journal of molecular histology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Narrative review of animal (mostly rodent) atrazine (herbicide) literature, EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL dosing throughout: disrupted HPG axis, steroidogenesis, oxidative stress, spermatogenesis; intergenerational/transgenerational effects |
| Yaiphaba Meitei H, Kadiregowda N, Predheepan D, Lakshmi VR, Uppangala S, Hegde P, Kalthur G, Schlatt S, Adiga SK 2025 · American journal of men's health | observational | mixed | moderate | PART (1) only. Retrospective, 12,151 sub-fertile men, southern India, 2006-2022 (17 years): no significant change in concentration, motility, morphology or vitality over time. Contradicts a universal/global decline in this population; no ex |
| Hamed MA, Akhigbe TM, Adeogun AE, Adesoye OB, Akhigbe RE 2023 · Frontiers in endocrinology | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | PART (2). MA of 766 men (349 OP-exposed OCCUPATIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL vs 417 controls): initially reduced count/concentration/motility/morphology, but after subtype and sensitivity analyses the count and progressive-motility effects were NOT s |
| d10-33273-2663-4570-2026-100-1-68-74 2026 · Ukrainian Journal of Modern Toxicological Aspects | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL oral dosing, epoxiconazole (triazole fungicide) from two manufacturers, 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg x10 weeks: 2 mg/kg reduced motile-sperm count and testicular weight (worse for one source-batch); 0.5 mg/kg showed NO |
| Owumi S, Chimezie J, Otunla MT, Arunsi UO, Eso VO, Sanusi AA, Owolabi OM, Babalola JO, Akomolafe AP, Irozuru CE, Amadi CM 2026 · Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, atrazine 10 mg/kg +/- manganese 10 mg/kg x28 days: co-exposure reduced testicular function/sperm quality and raised abnormalities/oxidative stress/apoptosis (note: abstract itself reports this as 'p |
| Levine H, Jørgensen N, Martino-Andrade A, Mendiola J, Weksler-Derri D, Jolles M, Pinotti R, Swan SH 2023 · Human reproduction update | meta-analysis | mixed | high | PART (1) only. Levine et al. 2023 update: 223 studies/288 estimates, 1973-2018, global sperm concentration slope -0.87 million/mL/yr (95% CI -0.89 to -0.86, p<0.001), now extended to South/Central America-Asia-Africa. Tests whether the decl |
| Elmorsy EM, Ghaith MM, Baiuomy AR, Elzahed HM, Sobh ZK, Sharif AF, Hussein NM 2026 · Environmental toxicology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, cypermethrin (pyrethroid insecticide, dose not stated in abstract): reduced body/organ weight, sperm count (5.62+/-0.74x10^6) and motility (49.3%+/-2.9%), raised abnormal sperm and oxidative-stress |
| d10-33448-rsd-v15i6-51316 2026 · Research Society and Development | observational | mixed | low | PART (2). Narrative review (PubMed/Scopus/Embase + manual search): concludes OCCUPATIONAL pesticide exposure has the most consistent association with reproductive harm, with growing evidence for chronic low-intensity ENVIRONMENTAL exposure |
| Meyer JD, Brazil C, Redmon JB, Wang C, Sparks AE, Swan SH 2022 · Journal of occupational and environmental medicine | observational | mixed | moderate | PART (2), the crux distinction. Cohort of demonstrably fertile men (Study for Future Families), OCCUPATIONAL route: prevalence ratio for lower sperm concentration = 4.1 for lead, 1.6 for pesticides/insecticides, 1.4 for solvents. A clean ex |
| Kasra Kermanshahi R, Jorsarayi SGA, Fattahi E, Kazemi S, Gholami Tabar Tabari M 2026 · Scientific reports | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, tricyclazole (fungicide, dose not stated in abstract) x58 days: reduced testosterone/GSI, raised lipid peroxidation, disrupted seminiferous architecture and stage-specific gene transcripts, reduced |
| Salama AR, Aboushouk AA, El-Far A, Ashoura NR, Rohiem AH, Edres HA, Saad HM 2026 · Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Rat model, EXPERIMENTAL dosing, fipronil (phenylpyrazole insecticide) 9.7 mg/kg (1/10 LD50 of 97 mg/kg) x60 days: reduced testicular weight/sperm count/motility, raised abnormalities, disrupted mitochondrial dynamics; telmisartan |
| Nolan C, Jackson H, Looney A, Cullinane J, Glover LE, Crosby D, Allen C 2026 · Andrology | observational | mixed | moderate | PART (1) only. Retrospective, 18,219 analyses/15,413 men, single Irish clinic 2008-2023: median sperm concentration ROSE 57->70 M/mL (+22.8%, p<0.0001), motility stable, oligo/azoospermia rates unchanged. Directly contradicts a universal de |
| Owumi S et al 2026 · preprint | animal | mixed | low | PART (2). Preprint duplicate of pmid:42467201 (rat model, atrazine+manganese co-exposure, 28 days): same findings and same internal inconsistency in the abstract's significance reporting. Unreviewed preprint, animal-only. |
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