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| Sperm damage 'passed to children' | Sperm damage 'passed to children' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Sperm defects caused by exposure to environmental toxins can be passed down the generations, research suggests. | Sperm defects caused by exposure to environmental toxins can be passed down the generations, research suggests. |
| Scientists say fathers who smoke and drink should be aware they are potentially not just damaging themselves, but also their heirs. | Scientists say fathers who smoke and drink should be aware they are potentially not just damaging themselves, but also their heirs. |
| Tests on rats showed sperm damage caused by exposure to garden chemicals remained up to four generations later. | Tests on rats showed sperm damage caused by exposure to garden chemicals remained up to four generations later. |
| The US study was presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. | The US study was presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. |
| If I was a young man I would not drink very heavily and not smoke two packets of cigarettes a day while I was trying to conceive a child Professor Cynthia DanielsRutgers University | If I was a young man I would not drink very heavily and not smoke two packets of cigarettes a day while I was trying to conceive a child Professor Cynthia DanielsRutgers University |
| It suggests that a father's health plays a greater role in the health of future generations than has been thought. | It suggests that a father's health plays a greater role in the health of future generations than has been thought. |
| A team from the University of Idaho in Moscow tested the effects of a hormone-disrupting fungicide chemical called vinclozolin on embryonic rats. | A team from the University of Idaho in Moscow tested the effects of a hormone-disrupting fungicide chemical called vinclozolin on embryonic rats. |
| The chemical altered genes in the sperm, including a number associated with human prostate cancer. | The chemical altered genes in the sperm, including a number associated with human prostate cancer. |
| Rats exposed to it show signs of damage and overgrowth of the prostate, infertility and kidney problems. | Rats exposed to it show signs of damage and overgrowth of the prostate, infertility and kidney problems. |
| The defects were also present in animals four generations on. | The defects were also present in animals four generations on. |
| The scientists admitted that the rats were exposed to very high levels of vinclozolin. | The scientists admitted that the rats were exposed to very high levels of vinclozolin. |
| Proof of principle | Proof of principle |
| But they argued that their work shows that once toxins cause defects in sperm they can be passed down the generations. | But they argued that their work shows that once toxins cause defects in sperm they can be passed down the generations. |
| Professor Cynthia Daniels, from Rutgers University in New Jersey, has written books on male and female reproduction. | Professor Cynthia Daniels, from Rutgers University in New Jersey, has written books on male and female reproduction. |
| She said men who drank a lot of alcohol had been shown to have increased rates of sperm defects and nicotine from tobacco found its way into seminal fluid as well as blood. | She said men who drank a lot of alcohol had been shown to have increased rates of sperm defects and nicotine from tobacco found its way into seminal fluid as well as blood. |
| Professor Daniels said: "We need to open up our eyes and look at the evidence. | Professor Daniels said: "We need to open up our eyes and look at the evidence. |
| "My advice to young couples would be moderation. Substances that have an impact on reproduction are often also carcinogenic. | "My advice to young couples would be moderation. Substances that have an impact on reproduction are often also carcinogenic. |
| "If I was a young man I would not drink very heavily and not smoke two packets of cigarettes a day while I was trying to conceive a child." | "If I was a young man I would not drink very heavily and not smoke two packets of cigarettes a day while I was trying to conceive a child." |
| Professor Neil McClure, a fertility expert at Queen's University Belfast, said the DNA in sperm cells was more tightly packed than in other cells, and so, to some extent, was protected from damage. | |
| However, once sperm cell DNA was damaged, it had no mechanism by which to affect repairs. | |
| He said: "There is no doubt that if you smoke like a chimney or drink vast amounts of alcohol it will result in sperm damage, and probably damage in the DNA of the sperm. | |
| "My advice to any man trying for a baby would be to lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible." |