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Sperm levels among Western men have plunged to a record low, new research reveals.

It has fallen by more than 50% in 40 years – and is showing no signs of slowing down.

The study did not examine causes but scientists believe the amount of ­chemicals used in everyday products, industry and farming may be behind the crisis.

Researchers from the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, screened 7,500 studies that took place between 1973 and 2011.

(Image: Getty)

The study was led by Dr Hagai Levine and Dr Shanna H Swan.

Dr Levine said: “This is an urgent wake-up call for researchers and health authorities around the world to investigate the causes of the sharp drop in sperm count, with the goal of prevention.”

Dr Swan added: “Decreasing sperm count has been of great concern since it was first reported 25 years ago. This shows the decline is strong and continuing.”

(Image: Getty)

“The fact that the decline is seen in Western countries strongly suggests that chemicals in commerce are playing a causal role in this trend.”

The study, published in the Human Reproduction Update, found no significant decline in sperm count was seen in South America, Asia and Africa.