Could exposure to chemicals be impairing our ability reproduce as a species

Researchers from a study done at Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine in Jerusalem announced last week that sperm counts in men from America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand showed a 52.4 percent decline in sperm concentration and a 59.3 percent decline in total sperm count among North American, European, Australian and New Zealand men. And the rate of decline is not slowing.

This analysis did not look into reasons for the decline, but noted that falling sperm counts have previously been linked to various factors such as exposure to certain chemicals and pesticides, smoking, stress and obesity.

No significant decline was seen in South America, Asia and Africa, but researchers noted that far fewer studies have been done in these regions.

REUTERS: Sperm Count Dropping in Western World

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Sperm Count in Western Men Has Dropped Over 50 Percent Since 1973, Paper Finds

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Wooden Watch Strap

Question from Jonathan

Hi Debra,

I’ve just discovered your page. It is WONDERFUL. My wife and I are attempting to slowly but surely reduce our toxic levels at home (particularly plastics!) for ourselves and our children, and your site is going to help us a lot for sure!

My latest mission is watch straps! I’ve come to realise that it is not so easy to find something toxin free! And if a watch wearer, we are in contact with the strap ALL day!
I guess that’s where the problem originates! They are on all day, so have to resist wear and tear, sweat and other liquids, sun and heat. So they mostly are build tough, and that means:

Plastic straps: are… plastic. And the non-solid “woven fabric” straps like NATO straps are often either nylon or Cordura based or some other plastic.

Leather. But leather straps will all surely be chromium based leather. Rawhide wouldn’t be flexible enough etc. And leather is just awful in so many ways. Btw you may have already seen it but here’s a great post on leather: How Leather Is Slowly Killing the People and Places That Make It

So I searched for “vegan leather” straps. These seem to be pure plastic or PU coated leather. Sigh…

Then I heard about cork watch straps! Made from real cork! I don’t know much about cork. But I don’t trust that cork could withstand much movement or wear, could it? So I would bet the cork is bound with melamine or PU or something to stop it falling apart. Particularly cus watch straps are so thin! Also, I have no idea about the ethics or processes of cork manufacturing.
Any thoughts? Could this be the answer?

What about canvas? What is canvas? I see some canvas straps that are backed with leather anyhow. But a pure canvas strap? Is that possible? I’m thinking about canvas like what paintings are on. They’re not plastic these days surely? Linen or something?

Any other ideas? The more I look, the less hope I find! Product listings are SO vague and retailers and manufacturers alike! I need help Debra! Help!

Debra’s Answer

I stopped wearing a watch many years ago for all the reasons you state.

But I still needed to know what time it was.

There are watches you can carry without a strap, such as watches on necklaces, pocket watches, travel clocks you can put in a pocket or purse and probably more I’m not aware of.

Today the time is on your cell phone (if you carry one) so there’s not much need for a watch.

You didn’t mention metal watch bands, but they often cause rashes.

Readers, any success with finding a nontoxic watch band?

I can’t tell you who wrote this because the person who sent it to me didn’t know, but I felt it was worth passing along.

Inspired by Michael Pollan’s Food Rules, here is a short list of guidelines for choosing products—any product.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

ELEVEN RULES FOR CHOOSING PRODUCTS

• If it is cheap, it probably has hidden costs.
• If it starts as a toxic input (like ethylene glycol in the manufacture of polyester), you probably don’t want it in your house or office.
• Use materials made from substances you can imagine in their raw or natural state.
• Use carbohydrate-based materials (i.e., natural fibers) when you can.
• Just because almost anything can kill you doesn’t mean fabrics should.
• Pay more, use less.
• Consult your nose – if it stinks, don’t use it.
• If they can’t tell you what’s in it, you probably don’t want to live with it. (Note: this is not just the fibers used to weave the fabric – did the processing use specific chemicals, like heavy metals in the dyestuff, or are there any finishes on the fabric?)
• Avoid materials that are pretending to be something they are not (like polyester mimicking linen).
• Question materials that make health claims.
• Regard space-age materials with skepticism.

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