The decline in Human Fertility

Biology 108 – Assignment 1

“Human fertility is declining because of pollution”

I believe that human fertility is declining due to pollution. To study this question we need to look at infertility in humans. Infertility can be defined as “the inability to conceive, carry, or deliver a healthy child” (Funk & Wagnalls, 1986). This may be caused by gene mutation, lowered sperm counts, impairment of sperm motility or many other reasons. We also know that “due to a higher surface area to volume ratio, sperm are usually more sensitive to toxicant exposure than eggs” (Pagano, 1995). Many environmental factors can affect infertility in humans and mammals; the three major groups are heavy metals, industrial pollutants and pesticides/ fungicides.

Dr. H. J. Muller studied the affect of different forms of radiation that caused gene mutations which in turn caused infertility. Muller exposed male fruit flies to different amounts of X radiation and he found that the ...