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 47 mixed · 47 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 · study_type: observational | observational | mixed | low | PART (1) restating the trend (~50% decline since 1970s, citing the same meta-analyses) with a PART (2) speculative evolutionary/epigenetic framework layered on top; presents no new exposure-outcome data and does not quantify pesticides' sha |
| Martenies SE et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2024 · study_type: meta-analysis | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | mixed | low | PART (1) restating the trend, with PART (2) SPECULATION not evidence. Narrative review citing the ~51.6% global sperm-concentration decline 1973-2018 and ~1-2%/yr testosterone decline; lists EDCs (BPA, phthalates, pesticides, dioxins) as on |
| Saad HM et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 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 et al 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: observational | 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | mixed | low | PART (2). Narrative review, PubMed search to mid-2025, 82/250 screened articles retained; pesticide is one of many keyword-searched environmental factors (alongside temperature, heavy metals, phthalates, PFAS, RF-EMR, microbiome). Concludes |
| da Costa IR et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: observational | 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 · study_type: in-vitro | 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: observational | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · Asian journal of andrology | meta-analysis | mixed | low | PART (2). Umbrella review of 43 studies/67 risk factors (249 effect sizes, 54.6% GRADE 'very low'); lists organophosphates among pollutants linked to decreased semen quality but gives no pesticide-specific effect size, exposure route, or do |
| Lismer A et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2025 · study_type: observational | 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: animal | 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 et al 2026 · study_type: observational | 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. |
Disagree, or know a study we missed?
We grade by evidence, not opinions. The way to weigh in is to point us to a study we haven't cited (check the evidence table above first), or to flag a problem with one we have. Every submission is reviewed; if it holds up, the grade updates and shows in Science Changes Its Mind.
Opens a short form. You'll sign in with Google so submissions are tied to a real account — we don't display your identity, and we only accept a link we can verify (PubMed, DOI, ClinicalTrials.gov).
Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.