By Sola Ogundipe

A leading fertility scientist has warned against microwaving food in plastic containers because of its possible effects on fertility. Dr. Shanna Swan, an expert on endocrine disruptors, highlighted how these substances can disrupt hormones and harm reproductive health.

During a recent health podcast, she advised people to avoid using plastic in the microwave to prevent harmful chemicals from seeping into their food. She explained that chemicals like BPA and phthalates are added to plastics during manufacturing but are not firmly attached, allowing them to escape when heated. These chemicals, while making plastics stronger, have been linked to fertility problems in several studies. However, regulators maintain that the average person’s exposure levels are considered safe.

Swan is increasingly worried about how certain chemicals affect reproductive health, particularly by lowering sperm counts and quality in men. During the Huberman Lab podcast, she highlighted the dangers of heating plastic. An affiliate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, Swan mentioned that even leaving a water bottle in a car on a hot day can be harmful.

She advised against mixing these chemicals with food, especially in warm settings. When asked about reducing exposure to harmful plastics, Swan pointed out that food is a significant source, and suggested opting for organic products when possible to avoid pesticides that may contain phthalates.

Chemicals like BPA, along with bisphenol S and F, are linked not only to fertility problems but also to a higher risk of certain cancers. BPA can imitate the female hormone oestrogen, and high levels may disrupt hormone balance, potentially leading to tumour development.

Phthalates are also believed to harm fertility due to disrupting hormones, particularly the male sex hormone, testosterone. However, evidence suggests women’s ovaries are also adversely affected.

While concerns regarding exposure to these chemicals are growing, British food safety regulators say current evidence suggests the current level of exposure is ”not currently considered to be harmful”. However, the Food Standards Agency is currently conducting a review of data surrounding BPA in response to new studies. Exposure to endocrine disruptors has been suggested as one potential factor for a global decline in fertility rates.