A scientist has warned that penises could be shrinking because of increasing rates of pollution during pregnancy.

Dr Shanna Swan has forged a career as a leading environmental and reproductive epidemiologist.

Some of Swan’s work has investigated the impact of pollution on reproductive organs, and she co-authored a 2017 study that investigated dramatic falls in sperm counts amongst western men.

It turns out that plastics could be having changing how babies develop and consequently the sexual organs of adults.

Swan believes that phthalates, a chemical commonly found in plastic, is responsible for changing how the hormone endocrine is produced and this is causing biological changes.

The doctor has stated that the chemical can change the make-up of breast milk and change how babies develop in the womb leading to lower IQs, premature birth and shockingly smaller penises.

The Findings

The expert sat down with  The Intercept to explain her findings, “Babies are now entering the world already contaminated with chemicals because of the substances they absorb in the womb.”

As a result, of four specific phthalates during the first trimester, a shorter anogenital distance (AGD) is likely to develop.

This means the distance between the middle of the anus and penis is smaller and this impacts the size of the genitalia.

Swan noted, “Nobody is going to like that term, so you could use taint or gooch instead. But basically it’s the distance between the anus and the beginning of the genitals. And scientists have recognised its importance for a long time.

“Our work has shown that chemicals, including the diethylhexyl phthalate, shorten the AGD in males.”


However, the issue of phthalates impacting development also extends beyond the male genitalia.
Swan claims that “Yes, we found a relationship between women’s phthalate levels and their sexual satisfaction and researchers in China found that workers with higher levels of bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, in their blood were more likely to have sexual problems, including decreased desire.”
It seems that plastics could be impacting the development of all babies, and this statement by Dr Swan is also backed by other studies.
An article published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that penises of children could be half an inch smaller if parents were exposed to non-stick frying pans chemicals.
The chemicals called PFCs could also lead to a thinner and smaller penis after childbirth if adolescents are exposed to them frequently.
With this in mind, some may be careful about the number of plastics they use, as it could potentially make their babies less intelligent and have smaller genitalia. Naturally, this could leave them single and alone for a very long time.
It seems that pollution isn’t only destroying our world but penises too!
Image via Alamy