{"id":168136,"date":"2015-03-30T19:08:46","date_gmt":"2015-03-30T23:08:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/webadmin.news-harvard.go-vip.net\/gazette\/gazette\/?p=168136"},"modified":"2019-05-31T16:13:33","modified_gmt":"2019-05-31T20:13:33","slug":"pesticides-result-in-lower-sperm-counts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2015\/03\/pesticides-result-in-lower-sperm-counts\/","title":{"rendered":"Pesticides result in lower sperm counts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t
\"\"

\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said Jorge Chavarro, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.\n<\/p>

iStock<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\tPesticides result in lower sperm counts\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t
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\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\tKaren Feldscher\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tHarvard Chan School Communications\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tEating fruits and vegetables with high pesticide residue also had impact on sperm quality\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\t\t

Men who ate fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues \u2014 such as strawberries, spinach, and peppers \u2014 had lower sperm counts and lower percentages of normal sperm than those who ate produce with lower residue levels, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health<\/a>. It is the first study to look at the connection between exposure to pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables and semen quality.<\/p>\n

The study appeared online today in the journal Human Reproduction.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said Jorge Chavarro<\/a>, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.<\/p>\n

Numerous studies had shown that consuming conventionally grown fruits and vegetables resulted in measurable pesticide levels in urine. Other studies had uncovered associations between occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides and lower semen quality. But only a few studies had linked consumption of pesticide residues in food to health effects, and none had looked at the effects on semen quality.<\/p>\n

The researchers used data from 155 men enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study, an ongoing National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded study at a fertility center in Boston. Data included 338 semen samples provided between 2007 and 2012 and validated survey information about participants\u2019 diets. The researchers classified fruits and vegetables according to whether they contained high amounts of pesticide residues (such as peppers, spinach, strawberries, apples, and pears) or low-to-moderate amounts (such as peas, beans, grapefruit, and onions), based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. They then adjusted for factors such as smoking and body mass index \u2014 both known to affect sperm quality \u2014 and looked for connections between the men\u2019s intake of produce with pesticide residue and the quality of their sperm.<\/p>\n

The results showed that men who ate greater amounts of fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residue \u2014 more than 1.5 servings per day \u2014 had 49 percent lower sperm count and 32 percent lower percentage of normal sperm than men who ate the least (less than 0.5 serving per day). They also had a lower sperm counts, lower ejaculate volumes, and lower percentages of normal sperm.<\/p>\n

The men who ate the most fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels of pesticide residue had higher percentages of normal sperm than those who ate less fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,\u201d said Chavarro. \u201cIn fact, we found that consuming more fruits and vegetables with low pesticide residues was beneficial. This suggests that implementing strategies specifically targeted at avoiding pesticide residues, such as consuming organically grown produce or avoiding produce known to have large amounts of residues, may be the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other Harvard Chan School researchers involved in the study included lead author Yu-Han Chiu, Myriam Afeiche, Audrey Gaskins, Paige Williams, and Russ Hauser.<\/p>\n

Funding for the study came from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health grants, and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Men who ate fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues had lower sperm counts and lower percentages of normal sperm than those who ate produce with lower residue levels, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. 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class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said Jorge Chavarro, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.\n<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">iStock<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/istock_hsph_fruits605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said Jorge Chavarro, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.\n<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">iStock<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"<header\n\tclass=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-article-header alignfull article-header is-style-full-width-text-below centered-image\"\n\tstyle=\" \"\n>\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/istock_hsph_fruits605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said Jorge Chavarro, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.\n<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">iStock<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"article-header__category\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading \">\n\t\tPesticides result in lower sperm counts\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tKaren Feldscher\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tHarvard Chan School Communications\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2015-03-30\">\n\t\t\tMarch 30, 2015\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t3 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tEating fruits and vegetables with high pesticide residue also had impact on sperm quality\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n"},"2":{"blockName":"core\/group","attrs":{"templateLock":false,"metadata":{"name":"Article content"},"align":"wide","layout":{"type":"constrained","justifyContent":"center"},"tagName":"div","lock":[],"className":"","style":[],"backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","ariaLabel":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\t\t<p>Men who ate fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues \u2014 such as strawberries, spinach, and peppers \u2014 had lower sperm counts and lower percentages of normal sperm than those who ate produce with lower residue levels, according to a new study by researchers at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/\">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health<\/a>. It is the first study to look at the connection between exposure to pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables and semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The study appeared online today in the journal Human Reproduction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/jorge-chavarro\/\">Jorge Chavarro<\/a>, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.<\/p>\n<p>Numerous studies had shown that consuming conventionally grown fruits and vegetables resulted in measurable pesticide levels in urine. Other studies had uncovered associations between occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides and lower semen quality. But only a few studies had linked consumption of pesticide residues in food to health effects, and none had looked at the effects on semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers used data from 155 men enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study, an ongoing National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded study at a fertility center in Boston. Data included 338 semen samples provided between 2007 and 2012 and validated survey information about participants\u2019 diets. The researchers classified fruits and vegetables according to whether they contained high amounts of pesticide residues (such as peppers, spinach, strawberries, apples, and pears) or low-to-moderate amounts (such as peas, beans, grapefruit, and onions), based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. They then adjusted for factors such as smoking and body mass index \u2014 both known to affect sperm quality \u2014 and looked for connections between the men\u2019s intake of produce with pesticide residue and the quality of their sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The results showed that men who ate greater amounts of fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residue \u2014 more than 1.5 servings per day \u2014 had 49 percent lower sperm count and 32 percent lower percentage of normal sperm than men who ate the least (less than 0.5 serving per day). They also had a lower sperm counts, lower ejaculate volumes, and lower percentages of normal sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The men who ate the most fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels of pesticide residue had higher percentages of normal sperm than those who ate less fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,\u201d said Chavarro. \u201cIn fact, we found that consuming more fruits and vegetables with low pesticide residues was beneficial. This suggests that implementing strategies specifically targeted at avoiding pesticide residues, such as consuming organically grown produce or avoiding produce known to have large amounts of residues, may be the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other Harvard Chan School researchers involved in the study included lead author Yu-Han Chiu, Myriam Afeiche, Audrey Gaskins, Paige Williams, and Russ Hauser.<\/p>\n<p>Funding for the study came from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health grants, and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n\t\t<p>Men who ate fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues \u2014 such as strawberries, spinach, and peppers \u2014 had lower sperm counts and lower percentages of normal sperm than those who ate produce with lower residue levels, according to a new study by researchers at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/\">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health<\/a>. It is the first study to look at the connection between exposure to pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables and semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The study appeared online today in the journal Human Reproduction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/jorge-chavarro\/\">Jorge Chavarro<\/a>, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.<\/p>\n<p>Numerous studies had shown that consuming conventionally grown fruits and vegetables resulted in measurable pesticide levels in urine. Other studies had uncovered associations between occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides and lower semen quality. But only a few studies had linked consumption of pesticide residues in food to health effects, and none had looked at the effects on semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers used data from 155 men enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study, an ongoing National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded study at a fertility center in Boston. Data included 338 semen samples provided between 2007 and 2012 and validated survey information about participants\u2019 diets. The researchers classified fruits and vegetables according to whether they contained high amounts of pesticide residues (such as peppers, spinach, strawberries, apples, and pears) or low-to-moderate amounts (such as peas, beans, grapefruit, and onions), based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. They then adjusted for factors such as smoking and body mass index \u2014 both known to affect sperm quality \u2014 and looked for connections between the men\u2019s intake of produce with pesticide residue and the quality of their sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The results showed that men who ate greater amounts of fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residue \u2014 more than 1.5 servings per day \u2014 had 49 percent lower sperm count and 32 percent lower percentage of normal sperm than men who ate the least (less than 0.5 serving per day). They also had a lower sperm counts, lower ejaculate volumes, and lower percentages of normal sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The men who ate the most fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels of pesticide residue had higher percentages of normal sperm than those who ate less fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,\u201d said Chavarro. \u201cIn fact, we found that consuming more fruits and vegetables with low pesticide residues was beneficial. This suggests that implementing strategies specifically targeted at avoiding pesticide residues, such as consuming organically grown produce or avoiding produce known to have large amounts of residues, may be the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other Harvard Chan School researchers involved in the study included lead author Yu-Han Chiu, Myriam Afeiche, Audrey Gaskins, Paige Williams, and Russ Hauser.<\/p>\n<p>Funding for the study came from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health grants, and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n\t\t<p>Men who ate fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues \u2014 such as strawberries, spinach, and peppers \u2014 had lower sperm counts and lower percentages of normal sperm than those who ate produce with lower residue levels, according to a new study by researchers at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/\">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health<\/a>. It is the first study to look at the connection between exposure to pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables and semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The study appeared online today in the journal Human Reproduction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/jorge-chavarro\/\">Jorge Chavarro<\/a>, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.<\/p>\n<p>Numerous studies had shown that consuming conventionally grown fruits and vegetables resulted in measurable pesticide levels in urine. Other studies had uncovered associations between occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides and lower semen quality. But only a few studies had linked consumption of pesticide residues in food to health effects, and none had looked at the effects on semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers used data from 155 men enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study, an ongoing National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded study at a fertility center in Boston. Data included 338 semen samples provided between 2007 and 2012 and validated survey information about participants\u2019 diets. The researchers classified fruits and vegetables according to whether they contained high amounts of pesticide residues (such as peppers, spinach, strawberries, apples, and pears) or low-to-moderate amounts (such as peas, beans, grapefruit, and onions), based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. They then adjusted for factors such as smoking and body mass index \u2014 both known to affect sperm quality \u2014 and looked for connections between the men\u2019s intake of produce with pesticide residue and the quality of their sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The results showed that men who ate greater amounts of fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residue \u2014 more than 1.5 servings per day \u2014 had 49 percent lower sperm count and 32 percent lower percentage of normal sperm than men who ate the least (less than 0.5 serving per day). They also had a lower sperm counts, lower ejaculate volumes, and lower percentages of normal sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The men who ate the most fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels of pesticide residue had higher percentages of normal sperm than those who ate less fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,\u201d said Chavarro. \u201cIn fact, we found that consuming more fruits and vegetables with low pesticide residues was beneficial. This suggests that implementing strategies specifically targeted at avoiding pesticide residues, such as consuming organically grown produce or avoiding produce known to have large amounts of residues, may be the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other Harvard Chan School researchers involved in the study included lead author Yu-Han Chiu, Myriam Afeiche, Audrey Gaskins, Paige Williams, and Russ Hauser.<\/p>\n<p>Funding for the study came from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health grants, and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.<\/p>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n","\n\n<\/div>\n"],"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t<p>Men who ate fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues \u2014 such as strawberries, spinach, and peppers \u2014 had lower sperm counts and lower percentages of normal sperm than those who ate produce with lower residue levels, according to a new study by researchers at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/\">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health<\/a>. It is the first study to look at the connection between exposure to pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables and semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The study appeared online today in the journal Human Reproduction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first report to link consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, a primary exposure route for most people, to an adverse reproductive health outcome in humans,\u201d said <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/jorge-chavarro\/\">Jorge Chavarro<\/a>, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology and the study\u2019s senior author.<\/p>\n<p>Numerous studies had shown that consuming conventionally grown fruits and vegetables resulted in measurable pesticide levels in urine. Other studies had uncovered associations between occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides and lower semen quality. But only a few studies had linked consumption of pesticide residues in food to health effects, and none had looked at the effects on semen quality.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers used data from 155 men enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study, an ongoing National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded study at a fertility center in Boston. Data included 338 semen samples provided between 2007 and 2012 and validated survey information about participants\u2019 diets. The researchers classified fruits and vegetables according to whether they contained high amounts of pesticide residues (such as peppers, spinach, strawberries, apples, and pears) or low-to-moderate amounts (such as peas, beans, grapefruit, and onions), based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. They then adjusted for factors such as smoking and body mass index \u2014 both known to affect sperm quality \u2014 and looked for connections between the men\u2019s intake of produce with pesticide residue and the quality of their sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The results showed that men who ate greater amounts of fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residue \u2014 more than 1.5 servings per day \u2014 had 49 percent lower sperm count and 32 percent lower percentage of normal sperm than men who ate the least (less than 0.5 serving per day). They also had a lower sperm counts, lower ejaculate volumes, and lower percentages of normal sperm.<\/p>\n<p>The men who ate the most fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels of pesticide residue had higher percentages of normal sperm than those who ate less fruits and vegetables with low-to-moderate levels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,\u201d said Chavarro. \u201cIn fact, we found that consuming more fruits and vegetables with low pesticide residues was beneficial. This suggests that implementing strategies specifically targeted at avoiding pesticide residues, such as consuming organically grown produce or avoiding produce known to have large amounts of residues, may be the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other Harvard Chan School researchers involved in the study included lead author Yu-Han Chiu, Myriam Afeiche, Audrey Gaskins, Paige Williams, and Russ Hauser.<\/p>\n<p>Funding for the study came from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health grants, and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n"}},"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":354442,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2023\/02\/men-who-lift-heavy-objects-have-higher-sperm-counts\/","url_meta":{"origin":168136,"position":0},"title":"Study shows higher sperm counts in men who lift heavy objects","author":"harvardgazette","date":"February 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Occupational factors, such as physical demands and work schedules, were associated with higher sperm concentrations and serum testosterone, according to a new study.","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Construction worker.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Construction-worker.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Construction-worker.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Construction-worker.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Construction-worker.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":326501,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2021\/05\/fears-over-falling-human-sperm-count-may-be-overblown\/","url_meta":{"origin":168136,"position":1},"title":"Study aims to quell fears over falling human sperm count","author":"Lian Parsons","date":"May 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Rising fears over declining human sperm count among men in Western countries may be overblown, according to researchers at Harvard\u2019s GenderSci Lab.","rel":"","context":"In "Science & Tech"","block_context":{"text":"Science & Tech","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/science-technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Human sperm gathered around an egg.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-sperm2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-sperm2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-sperm2500.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/iStock-sperm2500.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":159002,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2014\/08\/when-cooperation-counts\/","url_meta":{"origin":168136,"position":2},"title":"When cooperation counts","author":"harvardgazette","date":"August 20, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A new study conducted by Harvard scientists shows that in deer mice, a species known to be highly promiscuous, sperm clump together to swim in a more linear fashion, increasing their chances of fertilization.","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sperm_aggregate_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sperm_aggregate_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/sperm_aggregate_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":172374,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2015\/07\/pesticide-found-in-70-percent-of-massachusetts-honey-samples\/","url_meta":{"origin":168136,"position":3},"title":"Pesticide found in 70 percent of Massachusetts\u2019 honey samples","author":"harvardgazette","date":"July 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"In a new study, Harvard researchers looked at pollen and honey samples collected from the same set of hives across Massachusetts. Findings show they contain at least one pesticide implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder.","rel":"","context":"In "Science & Tech"","block_context":{"text":"Science & Tech","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/science-technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/honeybee605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/honeybee605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/honeybee605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":182175,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2016\/04\/greenery-plays-key-role-in-keeping-women-healthy-happy\/","url_meta":{"origin":168136,"position":4},"title":"Greenery plays key role in keeping women healthy, happy","author":"harvardgazette","date":"April 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The amount of vegetation surrounding the homes of women in the United States plays an important role in their mortality rate, according to a new Harvard study.","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/01-top-quintile-of-greenness_605_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/01-top-quintile-of-greenness_605_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/01-top-quintile-of-greenness_605_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":341394,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2022\/04\/an-avocado-a-week-may-lower-heart-disease-risk\/","url_meta":{"origin":168136,"position":5},"title":"Eating one avocado a week may lower heart disease risk","author":"Lian Parsons","date":"April 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A Harvard study finds that people who eat two or more servings of avocado each week may lower their risk of cardiovascular disease compared to people who rarely eat avocado.","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Avocado.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/gil-ndjouwou-cueV_oTVsic-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/gil-ndjouwou-cueV_oTVsic-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/gil-ndjouwou-cueV_oTVsic-unsplash.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/gil-ndjouwou-cueV_oTVsic-unsplash.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105622744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168136"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":277404,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168136\/revisions\/277404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168136"},{"taxonomy":"format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gazette-formats?post=168136"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=168136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}