Sperm killers are everywhere. No matter the point of entry, many everyday chemicals are zapping sperm counts and even silently scrambling DNA sperm data for men all over the world.
You might already know that narrow bikes seats have been linked to erectile dysfunction, and maybe you've heard about the study connecting antidepressants to sperm DNA damage. So here's some new ones causing a problem! But they're easier to avoid!

1. Cash register receipts
About 40% of receipts today are coated with the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been linked to fertility problems and heart disease. A new study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility just discovered that men with higher BPA levels in their urine experienced low sperm counts and lower sperm quality than men with lower levels.

Protect yourself: Say you don't want a receipt at the point of purchase. If you do need one, store it in an envelope or folder, not in a pocket or in the wallet you're constantly breaking open. Keep receipts out of the recycling bin, too; their BPA can contaminate water and recycled-paper products.

2. Canned food
Sure, canned food is convenient, but almost all of those metal cans are coated with a BPA resin, which migrates into the food. Acidic canned products, such as tomato paste or sauces, are particularly saturated with BPA.

Protect yourself: Choose fresh or frozen food instead of canned whenever possible, and buy foods like pasta sauce sold in glass jars rather than cans.

3. Your toxic shower
Phthalates linger in scented soaps, shampoos, and cleaners, and in vinyl shower curtains. And the heat from your shower makes it easier for the chemicals to be released.

Protect yourself: Choose a simple soap-and-shampoo-in-one, such as plant-based. Even though it's a kid's soap, it does the job. And it's free of harmful phthalate-containing products. Avoid personal-care products that have a fragrance or scent. Invest in a long-lasting hemp shower curtain instead of buying vinyl curtains every month or two.

4. Chemical-laced produce
Unfortunately, chemical pesticides don't see much difference between your precious seed and a hornworm.

Protect yourself: It's helpful to always wash your produce, but pesticides aren't just on food, they're in the food, too. So eat organic whenever possible, and start planning your 2011 organic garden.

5. Heated car seats
Heated car seats, heating pads, and even prolonged time in a hot tub heats up testicular temperatures just enough to decrease sperm production.

Protect yourself: Direct heat is the problem here, so if you're cold in the car, just boost the heater and let the air circulate around the vehicle.

Found on MSN Lifestyle