Culture  Health&Science
Study: Major decline in Israeli men's sperm quality
Yaron Kelner
Published: 26.08.12, 07:02
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1. hormones are in our water.....
galilean ,   Israel   (08.26.12)
Our water is totally polluted with hormones. Our sewage water is recycled into grey agricultural water, safe as far as bacteria is concerned but full of the of hormones that are urinated into that system. This water is used to irrigate vegetable crops. Our sweet water pond fish swim in hormone infested water, our chickens drink hormone infested water so it's in their meat and eggs too. There is another problem happening more and more in Israel. My daughter has been hearing more and more about friends with young daughters starting to menstruate at the age of 8!
2. Shampoo
Aviva ,   Tzfat   (08.26.12)
Check out healthystuff.org - I try not t buy anything that has their listed chemicals of concern like parabens and pthalates.
3. Who wants a child without a father?
Lou ,   Bucharest, Romania   (08.26.12)
These banks are an awful, horrible thing. They treat future human beings withoour DIGNITY, Every child is entitled to know his roots, his grandfather , grandmother, cousins. And most of all EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO BE BORN FROM LOVE not from an animal-like treatment of the body of an irresponsible mother!
4. arrogance and guilt don't help either
roger ,   zurich switzerland   (08.26.12)
5. Don't overlook...
Devorah   (08.26.12)
the genetically modified (GMO) foods that Israel imports and does not label as such. These foods are directly related to abnormal sperm and low sperm counts in young, healthy men. The same goes for certain pesticides. Buy organic only, or grow your own if possible.
6. sperm
larry ,   Israel   (08.26.12)
Another doctor's mistaken diagnosis ! doctors think they know everything now a days .. But they don't, women do sleep with me or you will get pregnant .i drink milk and talk on my cell, !!
7. Full heads of hair? more like cigarette smoking bald men
Lifshits   (08.26.12)
I've never seen so many bald men since moving here, that and heavy smokers. Smoking 20 a day, the heat, it all impacts the sperm..
8. could have fooled me...
nadav   (08.26.12)
tell that to the haredim, they have 11 kids! It's probably just the heat...
9. Major factor: GMO corn and soy...
R ,   Jerusalem   (08.26.12)
check out Genetic Roulette by Jeff Smith on the studies related to GMO. Also, the co. Epicyte developed spermicidal GMO corn. And corn is laced in everything, especially baby formula, cereals, drinks. 80-90% of corn and soy is contaminated with GMOs
10. receipe against overpopulation of the planet
tiki ,   belgium   (08.26.12)
Is it only in Israel or don't men in other countries use cell phones, drink milk or wash their hair?
11. Cover up
Leo ,   Modi'in   (08.26.12)
Yes I agree with Galilean with hormones and chemicals (pesticides) in our drinking water. But I would like to add another very probable cause: radioactive fallout. Don't forget that Iraq was highly contaminated by Depleted Uranium during the past wars. Probably Lebanon too (with Enriched Uranium). Look at what happened in Fallujah. It only takes a couple of days for the wind to travel to Israel. Microscopic amounts are sufficient to damage the DNA and especially the reproductive system. (For this reason, it would be most interesting to carry out similar studies in neighboring countries in the ME.) Don't take my word for it. Check the web. This is documented. Please ask your Haver Knesset for testing radioactive elements in our drinking water.
12. If Iran is attacked, deformed by fallout babies will be born
Michael ,   California, USA   (08.26.12)
13. Shampoo
Aviva ,   Tzfat   (08.26.12)
Check out healthystuff.org - I try not t buy anything that has their listed chemicals of concern like parabens and pthalates.
14. We have a society full of pesticides, chemicals, radiation..
Riva, Homeopath ,   Israel   (08.27.12)
hormones in our foods, ....in short, if people want to be healthy and furtile, they have to be serious about their diet and take vitamins to combat all these problems! Eating organic foods helps, eating lots of veges/ whole grains, eliminate sugar, cut down on alcohol and the like is the secret to improving fertility. I know a guy who was told her had a sperm count of 0 with a wife with fertility problems herself. yet, together, they ate the healthiest diet they could manage and they prayed as well as doing many "holy things"! Soon they will be having their third child!
15. #10 - Just Israel.
Henry from New York ,   Currently under the Tuscan Sun   (08.26.12)
I am typing on a smartphone right now. Definitely not a cellphone! My hair had Sabon products placed in it and then removed. I also had some white liquid that came from a bovine of some manner. This cellphone use, hairwashing and milk drinking is exclusive to Israel as is hinted by this shocking article. I recommend that Israelis resort to ham radio use, shaving the head and switching to an all-meat diet.
16. Solution to Israel's troubles
Henry from New York ,   Currently under the Tuscan sun   (08.26.12)
I can have assembled a team of ultra-virile American Jewish males. Just give the word, folks.
17. Cannibis causes infertility
NotStoned ,   Washington, DC   (08.26.12)
It is well known that cannabis decreases fertility. It is because it prematurely activates the "final sprint" mode in the sperm. They get tired before they get there. In the US, cannabis smokers are not allowed to be sperm donors for this reason.
18. ##7
(08.27.12)
Actually, you'll find significant baldness among Jewish men in general, so it's not necessarily because of anything in Israel. But you could also say that baldness is related to virility because men with more testosterone have a greater likelihood of being bald.
19. number 11...another nerve
galilean ,   Israel   (08.27.12)
You've touched on another nerve. MY Haver Knesset? Is there such a thing in our PARTY oriented goverment. I live in northern Israel...maybe maybe maybe there is ONE Haver Knesset from the Galilee? I really have no idea, and really don't care. I do not vote. All political systems are corrupt. I do not expect or want anyone to agree with me. BTW, mega doses of Vitamin C help us clean out alot of this toxicity. And yes, yes to all those here mentioning GMO foods. Very bad for us. If you want to start optimizing your health, even here in polluted Israel, start eating according to the 'paleo diet'. Unfortunately our meat/dairy products are not very pure, even our organic chicken is not what people think. Animals should be PASTURED...ah....America America. And as for organic vegetables? What is sold for organic here would not be considered organic overseas. Our country is just too small. I call them biological/green vegies. Very expensive, unfortunately. BUT, anything we do helps. I can only pray for pastured animal/dairy products...sigh...
20. The 10 GMOs and Transgenic Food
Devorah   (08.27.12)
"To date, a list of 10 food products have been identified to be genetically modified. They are as follows: Corn, Soy, Cotton, Papaya, tomatoes, rice, rapeseed, peas, potatoes, and dairy products. Some of these foods are called by different names. For example, rapeseed, an industrial heating oil, was never meant for human consumption. It was later called canola oil, and marketed as being a 'healthy' oil to consume." "Engineered foods become GMO food. For example, some seeds are injected with HUMAN GENES- DNA, and hence, they are not natural. It is not known what mutations might occur as a result. A subset of GMO foods are called Transgenic foods. Some researchers are suggesting that the rise in autism is due to Transgenic foods." Source: GreenMedInfo, "The Human Feeding Experiment"
21. #4 - then why do Muslim men continue to father kids??
William ,   Israel   (08.27.12)
Taking the prize on arrogance (but not feeling guilty for their own atrocities) should render their population in decline. But I guess having multiple wives, or just mating with the same woman very often, whether she wants it or not, would be a to combat that. I wonder what will become of them when women's rights final hit Muslim countries. Ahhhhh - but now I'm just talking silly.
22. #2 - Google also Environmental Working Group
William ,   Israel   (08.27.12)
They developed a complete database of products that contain harmful chemicals, from sunscreen to cosmetics, to food. They even have a database on children's products, which is extremely helpful. The sad part though - while it focuses on products in the US, and works to make legislation to force companies to change their product recipe, it may not affect products outside the US by the same company.
23. #3 - who says the child is not born from love?
William ,   Israel   (08.27.12)
That mother will love her child enough for both parents, that is for sure. just because such a treatment doesn't fit into your perspective of the world doesn't make it a horrible thing. Who's to say that the father isn't one of those who has a low-sperm count, and the couple needs a sperm donation in order to have a child in the first place? It does happen and I've witnessed it.
24. Let's thank all those Nobel Prize winners
Edithann ,   USA   (08.27.12)
for contaminating the planet with their contributions? TATA
25. #22 - William
Devorah   (08.28.12)
I'm glad you mentioned EWG and want to add that they have a database for pet food, too. So true what you wrote about products out of the U.S., but it's still a good barometer of the chemical wreckage going on.
26. Look at the bright side - less abortions!
Tahl   (08.28.12)
27. Avoid food with soy & tight pants
Sue ,   Los Angeles   (08.28.12)
Soy is put into a lot of foods. It contains estrogen, a female hormone which has a feminizing effect on men. Check food ingredient labels. Tight pants also reduce sperm count. Concerned men should switch to looser trousers and boxer shorts underwear.
28. #24
galilean ,   Israel   (08.28.12)
Mainstream science can be blind to the damage they are doing. Most of the scientists developing the technology and the farmers raising these crops, truly and honestly believe they are doing good by mankind. Feeding the masses, etc. Sometimes it's hard to look at the truth. I do not blame them in anyway, only ponder on their naivete. I do 'blame' the people running agribusiness and the large food cooperations, oh and the F.D.A. The FDA especially is the leader of false information and coverups.
29. I think the biggest culprit is
Reuven   (08.28.12)
radiation in our water supply.
30. Obviously this doesn t concern..
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (08.28.12)
Haredi men,judging by their many children.
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