Spermageddon: are humans going extinct?
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Freddie Sayers meets Prof Shanna Swan of Mount Sinai, New York.
Accompanying article here: https://unherd.com/thepost/spermageddon-are-humans-going-extinct/
Listen to the podcast here: https://shows.acast.com/lockdowntv-with-freddie-sayers/spermageddon-are-humans-going-extinct
Is the human race in danger of extinction? That's the jaw-dropping claim made in Professor Shanna Swan's new book 'Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race'. According to the book, sperm counts have dropped almost 60% since 1973 and suggests that they could reach zero by 2045, which would mean no more reproduction and no more babies.
Our Science Editor Tom Chivers wasn't overly convinced by the thesis, but we wanted to hear Dr Swan out. She argues that chemicals such as "Pthalates", to be found in everything from ATM receipts to Tupperware plastic, are altering —and endangering — human sexual development, which is getting worse by the year.
Having devoted over 20 years of her career to the study of sperm, the epidemiologist is about as well-credentialed as they come and she is certainly worth listening to. We thank prof Swan for her time and hope you enjoy the discussion.
#sperm #epidemiology #plastics
Accompanying article here: https://unherd.com/thepost/spermageddon-are-humans-going-extinct/
Listen to the podcast here: https://shows.acast.com/lockdowntv-with-freddie-sayers/spermageddon-are-humans-going-extinct
Is the human race in danger of extinction? That's the jaw-dropping claim made in Professor Shanna Swan's new book 'Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race'. According to the book, sperm counts have dropped almost 60% since 1973 and suggests that they could reach zero by 2045, which would mean no more reproduction and no more babies.
Our Science Editor Tom Chivers wasn't overly convinced by the thesis, but we wanted to hear Dr Swan out. She argues that chemicals such as "Pthalates", to be found in everything from ATM receipts to Tupperware plastic, are altering —and endangering — human sexual development, which is getting worse by the year.
Having devoted over 20 years of her career to the study of sperm, the epidemiologist is about as well-credentialed as they come and she is certainly worth listening to. We thank prof Swan for her time and hope you enjoy the discussion.
#sperm #epidemiology #plastics