infertile ground; For decades, women have blamed themselves for fertility problems, but now scientists are looking outside-to the environment, to your backyard-for clues.(human reproductive health)

Byline: Robert Sullivan

You don't want to seem paranoid. You don't want your wife and kids to think you are crazy, or any crazier than you already are. But then there you are, rifling through the bathroom, reading the backs of face creams and shampoos, wondering about the long list of ingredients. And once you start looking, it's easy to feel as if your life has been invaded by chemicals, as if there's almost nothing you can do about it. You want to ignore the fact, for instance, that your son's deodorant is suspect. Then you learn that it's associated with male reproductive disorders. You want your daughter to just grab a water bottle as she leaves for a bike ...