A 2019 study published in Scientific Reports by the University of Nottingham found that household and environmental pollutants—di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB153)—adversely affect sperm quality in both humans and domestic dogs. The research demonstrated that exposure to these chemicals, commonly found in homes and food supplies, reduces sperm motility and increases DNA fragmentation in both species.
DEHP, used to soften plastics in items like carpets, upholstery, and toys, and PCB153, an industrial compound banned globally in 2001 but still present in the environment, were tested at concentrations mirroring real-world levels. Researchers observed identical negative effects on sperm samples from human and canine donors.
Lead researcher Richard Lea stated the findings suggest
