12-09-2008, 04:04 PM
December 08, 2008 03:00pm
TERRIFYING scientific research shows that pollution is killing men.
The male gender is in serious danger amongst both humans and many animal species, boffins are warning.
An increasing number of studies have indicated that toxins in the food chain - particularly in water - are having alarming effects on hormones in mammals and fish.
Sperm levels are dropping across the globe and there are increasing reports of communities exposed to high amounts of so-called "gender-bender" chemicals having many more girl babies than boys.
Dutch scientists found that boys whose mothers had been exposed to PCB chemicals grew up wanting to play with dolls and tea sets rather than with traditionally male toys.
And recent American research shows that baby boys born to women exposed to widespread chemicals in pregnancy are born with smaller penises and feminised genitals.
Now the most comprehensive report yet published, using eivdence from around the world, warns of incalculable consequences for life on Earth.
It is backed by some of the world's leading scientists, who say that it "waves a red flag" for humanity and shows that evolution itself is being disrupted, the UK's Independent revealed.
"This research shows that the basic male tool kit is under threat," report author Gwynne Lyons, a former UK government adviser on the health effects of chemicals, told the newspaper.
The study, published by the charity CHEMTrust, draws on more than 250 scientific studies.
Citing alarming examples such as male fish laying eggs, hermaphrodite cane toads in Australia and polar bears also developing both male and female genitals, it concludes: "Males of species from each of the main classes of vertebrate animals (including bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) have been affected by chemicals in the environment.
"Feminisation of the males of numerous vertebrate species is now a widespread occurrence.
"All vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors, which have been conserved in evolution.
"Therefore, observations in one species may serve to highlight pollution issues of concern for other vertebrates, including humans."
Wildlife and people have been exposed to more than 100,000 new chemicals in recent years - and 99 per cent of them are not adequately regulated, the Independent says.
Many have been identified as "endocrine disrupters" or gender-benders because they interfere with hormones.
These include phthalates, used in food wrapping, cosmetics and baby powders among other applications; flame retardants in furniture and electrical goods; PCBs, a now banned group of substances still widespread in food and the environment; and many pesticides.
Female hormones largely from the contraceptive pills which pass unaltered through sewage treatment are partly responsible for effects on fish, while more than three-quarters of sewage works have been found also to be discharging demasculinising man-made chemicals.
Various professors told the Independent of their fears over the survey.
Charles Tyler, an expert on endocrine disrupters at the University of Exeter, says that the evidence in the report "set off alarm bells".
Dr Pete Myers, chief scientist at Britain's Environmental Health Sciences, said: "We have thrown 100, 000 chemicals against a finely balanced hormone system, so it's not surprising that we are seeing some serious results. It is leading to the most rapid pace of evolution in the history of the world."
Professor Lou Gillette of Florida University, warned that the report waved "a large red flag" at humanity, adding: "If we are seeing problems in wildlife, we can be concerned that something similar is happening to a proportion of human males."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/st...21,00.html
TERRIFYING scientific research shows that pollution is killing men.
The male gender is in serious danger amongst both humans and many animal species, boffins are warning.
An increasing number of studies have indicated that toxins in the food chain - particularly in water - are having alarming effects on hormones in mammals and fish.
Sperm levels are dropping across the globe and there are increasing reports of communities exposed to high amounts of so-called "gender-bender" chemicals having many more girl babies than boys.
Dutch scientists found that boys whose mothers had been exposed to PCB chemicals grew up wanting to play with dolls and tea sets rather than with traditionally male toys.
And recent American research shows that baby boys born to women exposed to widespread chemicals in pregnancy are born with smaller penises and feminised genitals.
Now the most comprehensive report yet published, using eivdence from around the world, warns of incalculable consequences for life on Earth.
It is backed by some of the world's leading scientists, who say that it "waves a red flag" for humanity and shows that evolution itself is being disrupted, the UK's Independent revealed.
"This research shows that the basic male tool kit is under threat," report author Gwynne Lyons, a former UK government adviser on the health effects of chemicals, told the newspaper.
The study, published by the charity CHEMTrust, draws on more than 250 scientific studies.
Citing alarming examples such as male fish laying eggs, hermaphrodite cane toads in Australia and polar bears also developing both male and female genitals, it concludes: "Males of species from each of the main classes of vertebrate animals (including bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) have been affected by chemicals in the environment.
"Feminisation of the males of numerous vertebrate species is now a widespread occurrence.
"All vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors, which have been conserved in evolution.
"Therefore, observations in one species may serve to highlight pollution issues of concern for other vertebrates, including humans."
Wildlife and people have been exposed to more than 100,000 new chemicals in recent years - and 99 per cent of them are not adequately regulated, the Independent says.
Many have been identified as "endocrine disrupters" or gender-benders because they interfere with hormones.
These include phthalates, used in food wrapping, cosmetics and baby powders among other applications; flame retardants in furniture and electrical goods; PCBs, a now banned group of substances still widespread in food and the environment; and many pesticides.
Female hormones largely from the contraceptive pills which pass unaltered through sewage treatment are partly responsible for effects on fish, while more than three-quarters of sewage works have been found also to be discharging demasculinising man-made chemicals.
Various professors told the Independent of their fears over the survey.
Charles Tyler, an expert on endocrine disrupters at the University of Exeter, says that the evidence in the report "set off alarm bells".
Dr Pete Myers, chief scientist at Britain's Environmental Health Sciences, said: "We have thrown 100, 000 chemicals against a finely balanced hormone system, so it's not surprising that we are seeing some serious results. It is leading to the most rapid pace of evolution in the history of the world."
Professor Lou Gillette of Florida University, warned that the report waved "a large red flag" at humanity, adding: "If we are seeing problems in wildlife, we can be concerned that something similar is happening to a proportion of human males."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/st...21,00.html