Brussels, November 4, 2025. A new report commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) warns that chemical pollution is fuelling a growing men’s health crisis in Europe. Prostate and testicular cancers and infertility are on the rise. Mounting evidence links these trends to exposure to phthalates, PFAS, pesticides and microplastics with widespread contamination across all age groups. Alarmingly exposure to these chemicals even before conception is associated with disorders in male offspring. The related health costs are estimated to exceed €15 billion annually.
The report highlights a series of concerning trends in men’s health across Europe:
Prostate cancer is now the 3rd most common cancer in men, with 330,000 new cases annually and €9 billion in costs.
Testicular cancer has increased by 25% since 2014, particularly among younger men.
Male infertility affects up to one in twelve couples, costing €3–4.5 billion a year in treatment.
Sperm counts have declined by 52% since 1973.
Microplastics have been detected in human testicular tissue samples, with evidence suggesting a potential association to reduced sperm counts.
Parental chemical exposure is increasingly associated with adverse health effects in future generations.
The report author Dr. Rossella Cannarella, MD, PhD, an Endocrinology specialist and Clinical Andrologist comments: “In men, the testes, prostate, and hormone system are uniquely sensitive to chemical exposures, especially during early development and the reproductive years. Across Europe, the evidence is consistent and alarming: prostate and testicular cancers are rising, sperm quality has fallen by more than half in the past decades, and hormonal disorders are becoming more common. Many of these trends correlate with exposure to harmful chemicals that are still too prevalent and increasing in our daily environment.”
Country findings:
Denmark has the sharpest collapse in sperm quality seen anywhere in Europe — a 22% drop in just three years (2019–2022). The country also ranks among the top five in Europe for testicular cancer incidence (10.8 per 100,000) and reports high prostate cancer (182.5 per 100,000). Researchers have documented widespread exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and PFAS, with prenatal exposure linked to higher testicular cancer risk in sons.
Similar patterns emerge across Europe, from industrial pollution in Poland’s Silesia region and Italy’s Po Valley to PFAS contaminated water in Sweden and pesticide exposure in France’s agricultural regions, — all linked to higher rates of prostate and testicular cancers.
“The alarming rise in prostate and testicular cancer among men across Europe is a warning we cannot ignore. The scientific evidence is clear — harmful chemicals like PFAS pose significant risk for cancer and put lives at risk. To prevent cancer and protect the health of future generations, we need decisive policy action to fully implement Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and cut exposure,” states Dr. Wolfgang Fecke, Executive Director at the Association of European Cancer Leagues.
While lifestyle and genetics shape health, the growing burden from chemical pollution demands urgent, science-based policy action. Especially as parental chemical exposure is increasingly associated with adverse health effects in future generations. The upcoming REACH revision is a pivotal opportunity for the EU to align its chemicals policy with scientific evidence and real-world exposure.
“This report shows that the male reproductive system is particularly vulnerable to chemical exposures. The growing evidence on how hazardous chemicals contribute to rising cancer rates and infertility is truly worrying. With the upcoming REACH revision, EU policymakers have a unique opportunity to prevent disease, boost reproductive health, and ensure the well-being of future generations.” HEAL’s Executive Director Génon K. Jensen states.