Posted on 11/14/2006 2:52:56 PM PST by Lorianne
Gender-bending chemicals mimicking the female hormone oestrogen can disrupt the development of baby boys, suggests the first evidence linking certain chemicals in everyday plastics to effects in humans.
The chemicals implicated are phthalates, which make plastics more pliable in many cosmetics, toys, baby-feeding bottles and paints and can leak into water and food.
All previous studies suggesting these chemicals blunt the influence of the male hormone testosterone on healthy development of males have been in animals. This research highlights the need for tougher controls of gender-bending chemicals, says Gwynne Lyons, toxics adviser to the WWF, UK. Otherwise, wildlife and baby boys will be the losers.
The incriminating findings came from a study of 85 baby boys born to women exposed to everyday levels of phthalates during pregnancy. It was carried out by Shanna Swan at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York, US, and colleagues.
As an index of feminisation, she measured the anogenital distance (AGD) between the anus and to the base of the penis. She also measured the volume of each boys penis. Earlier studies have shown that the AGD is twice in boys what it is in girls, mainly because in boys the hormone testosterone extends the length of the perineum separating the anus from the testicles.
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
Giggle
I think I need to give my middle son some phthalates. I thought he was going to kill the neighborhood boy yesterday. He drinks chocolate soy milk too on occasion. I thought that was supposed to be an estrogen producer. He's got a lot of testosterone.
No, they are identified by an extremely small anocranial distance.
A lot more information than I bargained for when I clicked the link. Way too much information.
How is the AGD defined in females? I note that the base of the penis is one of the termini for determining the AGD in males.
Also, this hormone sounds like something our government schools will be administering to boys, if it can be shown to feminize boys postpartum.
"Plastics!...are why I feel really close to you right now..."
You're right about soy. I eat raw soy beans to control
hot flashes. Maybe that's why it's called MENopause.
Tofu doesn't do the same thing. Too processed.
Plastics ping!
Except of course that these chemicals, used in plastics, have no way of getting into the human body, licking plastic doesn't do it.
Hillary Clinton sure got a large dose of the chemicals when he was a kid.
They're absorbed into the skin. Plastics are petroleum based, and many petroleum products are used in soaps, shampoos and other household cleaning items. These petroleum derivatives contain chemicals known as aromatic hydrocarbons , which are both readily absorbed by the skin and deposited in the body's fat cells.
Many of these chemicals are considered pesticides and known carcinogens. Over-the-counter antibacterial soaps contain diphenyl ether, a benzene derivative.
While many of these products are considered singularly 'safe' no studies have been done on long-term effects or a mixture of several products.
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(And everyone please spare me the "We're all gonna DIE" posts.....mmmmmkay? :-)
bump for later read
"Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure grain alcohol?"
These chemicals were first discovered in South Carolina in a baby named Graham in 1953. He later went on to become a United States Senator
So what you are asying is that since some petroleum based products are absorbed into the skin that all petroleum based products are absrobed into the skin? I buy that if you took these chemicals and used them as a shampoo that they would be absorbed into the skin... but you are claiming that plastic toys somehow get abosrbed into the skin.
PET is virtually impermeable and inert to any ordinary liquids (hey, they package booze in it) or solids. Very few aromatic hydrocarbons can touch it, and those that can are industial solvents.
PET is also known as 'Polyester', the stuff they make into clothing, furniture, floor tiles, siding, and who knows what!
PET - Polyester, PE - polyethylene, PTFE - polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as Teflon), and CFC-12 - dichlorodifluoromethane (also known as Freon), are all Gods' and the Chemical Industries' gifts to mankind, although Freon got hit with a lie (ZERO-SCIENCE) by the environazis, and it got replaced with something that is actually dangerous!
In next weeks lesson we'll delve into some of the other 'plastics'! It'll be fun!.............FRegards
(Guess what racket I'm in for bonus points...)
No. I said the same (or related) petroleum-based chemical compounds used to manufacture plastics are also found in personal care products.
Although some very chemically sensitive people can and will react to chemicals found in toys, car parts, household items, etc., that usually isn't the issue.
LOL. Hubby and I were fussing about that the other day. Stupid tree-huggers!
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(Guess what racket I'm in for bonus points...)
Ummm....errrrr....(sigh)....This is HARD!
Ooo! Ooo. Plastics!
LOL!
It wasn't really PET I was referring to, it was benzene, phenols, formaldehyde and other petroleum derived pesticide/antibacterial compounds.
I've been told that the best way to avoid this problem is to buy organic milk because its hormone free.
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