After months of struggling to conceive, Kirstie Phillips, a 30-year-old nurse anesthetist from Suffield, Conn., decided to eliminate synthetic chemicals from her daily life. She discarded scented candles, body wash, moisturizers, and plug-in air fresheners—items she once considered harmless.
Phillips had always assumed pregnancy would come easily. She lived an active, healthy lifestyle and had no family history of infertility. Her husband, too, had no known health issues. However, when doctors discovered her ovaries weren’t functioning properly, Phillips turned to research. Spurred by discussions in online forums and scientific studies she uncovered, she became convinced that endocrine-disrupting chemicals—found in everyday household products—were to blame.
Two years later, after reducing her exposure to such chemicals, Phillips successfully gave birth to a son through artificial insemination. Ten months later, she conceived naturally, welcoming a daughter in October of last year. “I can’t prove it, but I can’t think of anything else that made the difference,” she said.
Declining Fertility and Chemical Concerns
Fertility rates are dropping globally, including in the United States. Last year, the U.S. recorded its lowest total fertility rate on record. Researchers are investigating a variety of contributing factors, including lifestyle changes, economic pressures, and environmental exposures. A growing body of evidence suggests that endocrine-disrupting chemicals—substances that mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones—may play a significant role in this decline.
“These chemicals have an astonishing ability to impact fertility,” said Patricia Hunt, a molecular biosciences professor at Washington State University who has spent decades studying human reproductive systems. “We have mounting evidence indicating we’re in serious trouble.”
Endocrine disruptors are pervasive. Found in products ranging from plastics, cosmetics, and food packaging to furniture and nonstick cookware, these chemicals can interfere with reproduction, even at minute levels of exposure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges reproductive disruption as a potential effect of endocrine-disrupting chemicals but highlights limitations in current testing methods for fully assessing risks.
Mounting Research on Chemicals and Fertility
Classes of chemicals raising the most concern include PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA).
PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” are present in drinking water, food packaging, and waterproof materials. A 2023 Mount Sinai study linked higher PFAS blood concentrations to reduced chances of pregnancy and live birth. PFAS have also been associated with hormone disruption, delayed puberty, and reproductive conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
BPA, a chemical widely used in food can linings, has been tied to fertility issues in women and poor semen quality, undescended testicles, and testicular cancer in men. Though the U.S. has banned BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups, it remains pervasive, with over 90% of the population showing traces in urine samples. Europe’s food safety regulator recently proposed reducing the acceptable daily BPA intake by 20,000 times—a move that could effectively ban its use in food-contact products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing a petition urging similar action.
Phthalates, chemicals found in scented personal care products and plastics, are also under scrutiny. Research has linked phthalate exposure to lower egg yields in women and reduced sperm counts in men. Shanna Swan, a public health professor at Mount Sinai, has studied endocrine disruptors for decades and co-authored a 2017 study revealing a nearly 60% decline in sperm counts in developed nations between 1973 and 2011. Swan argues that these declines align with increased chemical exposure.
“There’s no question that these chemicals are affecting fertility—not just in humans but also in animals,” Swan noted, referencing similar declines observed in dogs and horses. “These animals aren’t delaying childbearing. The chemicals are the common factor.”
Industry Disputes Risks
The chemical industry maintains that its products are safe at typical exposure levels. The American Chemistry Council, a U.S. trade group, asserts that fertility is influenced by numerous factors and emphasizes that its members conduct rigorous safety assessments to evaluate chemical risks.
However, scientists warn that exposure to multiple chemicals—even at low levels—may have cumulative or interactive effects that are not yet fully understood. Some chemicals persist in the body, while others exit quickly but remain ubiquitous in the environment, leading to continuous exposure.
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