A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that men who grew up in environments polluted with Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) had penises that were 12% shorter and 6% thinner than the penises of men who grew up elsewhere.
That’s especially alarming considering that PFCs are chemicals commonly found in the coating of nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and greaseproof food fast-food containers. PFCs are also found in numerous household items like cleaning products, cosmetics, glues, medicines, insecticides and electronics.
Researchers at Italy’s University of Padua measured the penises of 212 local men in Padua and compared them to the penises of 171 men who grew up elsewhere. They found that men from elsewhere had an average flaccid length of 3.9 inches whereas men from Padua had an average length of 3.4 inches.
Padua is one of four world regions with very high levels of PFC pollution. (The three others are in Dordrecht, Netherlands; Shandong, China; and West Virginia, USA).
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PFCs can easily enter the body through inhalation, drinking or eating. When ingested, PFCs have a nasty habit of binding to the body’s testosterone receptors, preventing the male sex hormone from fully developing young men’s bodies during puberty.
Related: Study on ‘penis size’ cut short after public outcry
This may not seem like such a threat if you’re already past puberty, but PFCs have also been linked to testicular cancer and lower sperm counts.
The study’s lead researcher, Andrea Di Nisio, told IFL Science, “I do not feel safe anyway, because PFOA is only one of hundreds of possible PFC compounds, and they can all be dangerous… therefore it is very hard to avoid any contact with any PFC.”
It makes sense if you’re concerned. But if it makes you feel any better, a September 2018 article in GQ showed that chemicals commonly found in everyday plastics are making us all infertile anyway. Oh, modern life!
Kangol
Hmm. I guess this article was too hot to touch for most Queerty readers.
Creamsicle
Sounds like the same kind of endocrine similarity that lead to BPA plastics coming with warning labels, and the rise in BPA-free labeling. I’ll read the paper itself later to see if it details the mechanism behind how this compound allegedly interferes with normal male development.