Provided by: www.ewg.org
Reproductive toxicants are chemicals that damage reproductive organs or impair the smooth functioning of the human reproductive system.
The effects of reproductive toxicants on females can include disruption of the menstrual cycle, miscarriages, changes in onset of puberty, gestation time, premature menopause, and alterations in sexual behavior.
In males, reproductive toxicants can cause decreased sperm counts, decrease in the number and percentage of healthy sperm, altered sexual behavior, decreased fertility and even sterility.
Reproductive health requires a complex orchestration of biological and physiological signals from conception through puberty. The toxic effects of most chemicals on this intricate system are not well studied, and even less well understood.
Reproductive toxicants commonly found in food include lead, cadmium, DDT, and benzene.
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