Khaberni - A recent scientific study, published in April 2026, shows that simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and the effects of climate change drastically exacerbates the global fertility decline crisis in a "terrifying" manner, creating a cumulative effect that multiplies reproductive damage in both humans and animals.
According to the scientific review which included 177 studies, chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system (such as those found in plastics, and fluorinated chemicals "PFAS"), combine with the thermal stress from global warming to form an unprecedented threat.
Susan Brander, a co-researcher from Oregon State University, explained that living organisms are no longer facing a single stressor, but multiple stressors at once that lead to the deterioration of sperm quality and hormonal disturbances.
Cross-Species Effects
The research showed that pollutants and extreme climate affect a wide range of organisms similarly:
Humans: The study linked chemicals to a reduction in sperm count by more than 50% over the past four decades.
Animals: Rodents and birds are suffering from testicular deformities and an increase in embryo mortality.
Heat-sensitive species: Rising temperatures cause disturbances in "sex determination" in fish and reptiles, threatening the continuity of their population balance.
Researchers warned that the world is approaching a "low fertility" future, where more than three quarters of the countries will be below the population replacement rate by 2050.
The study affirmed that the solution requires stringent systemic steps to reduce carbon emissions and decrease the use of toxic chemicals, citing past successes such as the Stockholm Convention to limit "DDT", emphasizing that current evidence is more than sufficient to start taking immediate action to protect the planet.
