使用防晒霜导致精子数量下降

Sunscreen and cosmetics could be killing men’s sperm, according to researchers who found that only one in four males has good fertility levels.

研究人员发现，防晒霜和化妆品会“杀精，而且只有25%的男性拥有优质精子。

Experts in reproduction said chemicals and the trappings of modern life appeared to be damaging men’s chances of having a family.

生殖专家声称，化学物质和现代生活中的“隐患损害了男性的繁殖能力。

Research found that just 25 percent of young men were producing good quality sperm, and the average volume had declined by a quarter since the 1940s. The findings, presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual meeting in Lisbon, prompted warnings from doctors that consumer lifestyles may have created a toxic environment for men.

研究发现，只有25%年轻男性的精子是优质的，其平均值与19世纪40年代的相比下降了25%。该研究结果在里斯本举行的欧洲社会人类生殖与胚胎学会(European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology)年度会议上发表。医生们提醒大家，可能是消费者生活方式损害了男性的精子质量。

Dr Niels Jorgensen, a consultant at the Department of Growth and Reproduction at Rigshospitalet, in Copenhagen, said thousands of chemicals found in bathrooms and kitchens were likely to be to blame for the changes.

尼尔斯·乔根森(Niels Jorgensen)博士是哥本哈根Rigshospitalet医院里生殖与发育科的会诊医生。他说在厨房和浴室里发现了几千种会损害男性精子的化学物质。

“Modern life is having an impact because we are exposed to so many chemicals and we don’t know what they do, he said. Chemicals found in sun cream, cosmetics, frying pans, cars, foods and even in items of clothing could all increase risks to sperm, he suggested.

他说：“现代生活中充满化学物质，我们不知其危害，这是个非常大的影响。他还指出，防晒霜、化妆品、平底锅、汽车、食物甚至是衣物里的成分都可能含有对精子有害的化学成分。

His 15-year study of almost 5,000 Danish men, with an average age of 19, found that 15 percent had very poor quality sperm, which meant they were likely to need some sort of fertility help.

他对接近5000名丹麦男性进行了长达15年的研究，这些男性平均年龄19岁，其中15%的男性精子质量很差。这意味着他们或多或少需要助孕。

A further 27 percent could expect a prolonged wait to father children. Just 25 percent had good quality semen, while the remainder had a lower standard. Dr Jorgensen said there was growing evidence from animal studies to suggest that many chemicals disrupt and inhibit the production of testosterone. He expressed particular concern about lotions such as sunscreen.

另有27%的男性可能需要更长的时间来备孕。只有25%的男人拥有良好的精子质量，其余的则更次。乔根森博士说，越来越多的动物研究表明，许多化学成分会破坏或者抑制睾酮的分泌。

“We are advised to protect ourselves with these sunblocks but it seems when you go to the laboratory and test some of these chemicals they can interfere with the sperm function, he said.

他说，“大家一直都被灌输使用防晒霜保护自己的观念，但如果你去到实验室，对这些化学成分进行测试，你就会发现它们影响了你的生育功能，

“If I was to advise my own family I would say don’t use it.

“我会告诫我的家人，不要使用防晒产品。

Prof Richard Sharpe, of the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at Edinburgh University, said he did not believe that chemicals were behind the drop in sperm counts, but said more research was needed to establish the reason.

爱丁堡大学的生殖健康医学理事会成员理查德·夏普(Richard Sharpe)教授不同意精子数量下降是由化学物质导致的，但他也认为其背后原因需要更多的调查研究。

Dr Chris Flower, of the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association, said: “We can state categorically that cosmetic products are required by strict European laws to be safe. The industry and the regulators are aware of concerns regarding possible endocrine effects and if such a risk was present from cosmetic products, action would already have taken place to deal with it.

化妆品盥洗用品和香水协会(Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association)的成员克里斯·弗劳尔(Chris Flower)博士说：“我们能理直气壮地说，化妆产品的安全性都是符合欧洲严格的法律。整个行业及其监管者都非常警惕化妆品对内分泌的潜在影响，而如果该影响真的存在于化妆产品中，相关应对措施应该早就出台了。

Vocabulary

sunscreen: 防晒霜

sperm: 精子

embryology: 胚胎学

consultant: 顾问医生

testosterone: 睾酮，睾丸

sunblock: 防晒霜

categorically: 斩钉截铁地

endocrine: 内分泌的