If the grisly images of marine life maimed and killed by waste plastics aren’t enough to get our attention, new Australian research linking plastics to smaller penises probably is. As Fairfax Media reported on Thursday, two University of Melbourne researchers have concluded that exposure to the chemicals in plastics is “the No. 1 reproductive issue for men”.
It is some of the same chemical additives that make plastics so durable and versatile that are in the spotlight, including BPA (Bisphenol A) and phthalates. These endocrine disruptors can mimic the body’s natural hormones and have been linked to various health issues including infertility. In 2014, a Choice investigation found these additives can leach into food via plastics packaging.