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| Millions of couples in the U.S. are infertile or dealing with infertility, statistics show. |
Every year in the United States, approximately 6 million women deal with infertility and around 2 million married couples are infertile.
The causes include hormonal imbalances, defects of the uterus, misshapen sperm, low sperm count and low sperm motility, for example.
And new research has just added another potential cause to the list: endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment.
Studies have found higher blood levels of pollutants such as bisphenol A (BPA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), which can interfere with a woman’s ability to get pregnant and reduce fertility.
Chemicals mimic hormones
More than 1,200 chemicals belong to the category of endocrine disruptors, meaning they can mimic or block hormones, including estrogen, the primary female sex hormone involved in pregnancy.
The researchers warn that even low levels of chemicals such as PCBs affect the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
PCBs and HCB are long-lived pollutants that take decades to break down. That is why even though they have been banned for 25 years or more, exposure in the general U.S. population is still widespread.
Most people are exposed through food, since the chemicals are often found in hard plastic beverage containers, food can linings and traces of pesticides.
To reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, experts advise to:
- Avoid canned foods
- Not use disposable water bottles
- Buy BPA-free plastics
- Avoid animal and fish fats that are high in PCBs
Use an air purifier to remove airborne chemicals
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| Remove chemicals, odors and other toxins with the 5000 Exec air purifier. |
The ambient air in most indoor environments contains dust particles and allergens, but also chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxins that are often off-gassing from construction materials, paints, electronic equipment, furniture, cleaning agents and scented products like air fresheners and candles.
An air purifier with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA can remove the widest range of these contaminants and keep the air cleaner and healthier.
Check out AllerAir’s 5000 Exec for powerful, portable air filtration where you need it, or contact us to determine which unit is best suited for your needs.
