Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
Update Date: 2008/12/09 07:30 Compiled by Xia Jialing / Report
Recent research confirms that various chemical pollutants are feminizing male animals, including humans, damaging male reproductive organs and fertility. Males have become an endangered group in evolution, posing immeasurable consequences for humans and wildlife.
The Independent reports that, according to the most comprehensive report to date, compiling over 250 global studies, many common chemicals are feminizing all male vertebrates, from fish to mammals, including humans.
A report published by the UK environmental organization CHEM Trust on the 8th states that this phenomenon of male animal feminization is global, observed in polar bears, South African plains antelopes, deep-sea whales, and eagles soaring in the sky.
Some leading scientists supporting this conclusion say it is a "red flag" warning to humanity, indicating that evolution is being disrupted. The timing of this report is sensitive, as the UK is set to lead opposition to the EU's draft new pesticide regulations on the 10th. Many pesticides have been proven to have "gender-bending" effects.
Latest US research shows that widespread exposure of pregnant women to chemicals results in male babies with smaller penises and feminized reproductive organs.
In Canada, Russia, and Italy, areas severely polluted by environmental hormones have seen the birth rate of female babies reach twice that of males.
In recent years, wildlife and humans have been exposed to over 100,000 new chemical substances. The European Commission admits that 99% of these substances are not properly regulated, and 85% lack appropriate safety information.
Many of these substances interfere with hormones and have been identified as "endocrine disruptors" (ED) or "gender-benders," including phthalates used in food packaging, cosmetics, and baby powder. Flame retardants in furniture and appliances, PCBs which are banned but still widely present in food and the environment, and many pesticides also fall into this category.
The CHEM Trust report points out that all vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors, preserved through evolution. Observing one vertebrate can highlight the severity of pollution's impact on other specific vertebrates, including humans.
Fish living in polluted waters are particularly affected, being among the first species to show gender-bending. Half of the male fish in UK lowland rivers have been found with eggs in their testes, and similar situations have been observed in Japan's freshwater fish and the North Sea and Mediterranean sea fish, partly due to female hormones from contraceptive pills discharged through sewage systems.
This year, the University of Florida found that 40% of local male cane toads have become hermaphroditic. Two-thirds of Sitka black-tailed deer in Alaska have cryptorchidism. South African antelopes are affected by chemicals, damaging their testes. Even wild polar bears are showing abnormal hermaphroditic phenomena.
Professor Tyler from the University of Exeter, specializing in ED, notes that impaired reproductive ability in male wildlife will shrink the gene pool, reduce disease resistance in offspring, and be detrimental to survival.
Professor Guillette from the University of Florida says that the occurrence of such problems in wildlife suggests that humans may face similar situations, which is concerning.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 081209/ 2/ 1aufh. html
Chemical Pollution Weakens Male Fertility
Recent research confirms that various chemical pollutants are feminizing male animals, including humans, damaging male reproductive organs and fertility. Males have become an endangered group in evolution, posing immeasurable consequences for humans and wildlife.
The Independent reports that, according to the most comprehensive report to date, compiling over 250 global studies, many common chemicals are feminizing all male vertebrates, from fish to mammals, including humans.
A report published by the UK environmental organization CHEM Trust on the 8th states that this phenomenon of male animal feminization is global, observed in polar bears, South African plains antelopes, deep-sea whales, and eagles soaring in the sky.
Some leading scientists supporting this conclusion say it is a "red flag" warning to humanity, indicating that evolution is being disrupted. The timing of this report is sensitive, as the UK is set to lead opposition to the EU's draft new pesticide regulations on the 10th. Many pesticides have been proven to have "gender-bending" effects.
Latest US research shows that widespread exposure of pregnant women to chemicals results in male babies with smaller penises and feminized reproductive organs.
In Canada, Russia, and Italy, areas severely polluted by environmental hormones have seen the birth rate of female babies reach twice that of males.
In recent years, wildlife and humans have been exposed to over 100,000 new chemical substances. The European Commission admits that 99% of these substances are not properly regulated, and 85% lack appropriate safety information.
Many of these substances interfere with hormones and have been identified as "endocrine disruptors" (ED) or "gender-benders," including phthalates used in food packaging, cosmetics, and baby powder. Flame retardants in furniture and appliances, PCBs which are banned but still widely present in food and the environment, and many pesticides also fall into this category.
The CHEM Trust report points out that all vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors, preserved through evolution. Observing one vertebrate can highlight the severity of pollution's impact on other specific vertebrates, including humans.
Fish living in polluted waters are particularly affected, being among the first species to show gender-bending. Half of the male fish in UK lowland rivers have been found with eggs in their testes, and similar situations have been observed in Japan's freshwater fish and the North Sea and Mediterranean sea fish, partly due to female hormones from contraceptive pills discharged through sewage systems.
This year, the University of Florida found that 40% of local male cane toads have become hermaphroditic. Two-thirds of Sitka black-tailed deer in Alaska have cryptorchidism. South African antelopes are affected by chemicals, damaging their testes. Even wild polar bears are showing abnormal hermaphroditic phenomena.
Professor Tyler from the University of Exeter, specializing in ED, notes that impaired reproductive ability in male wildlife will shrink the gene pool, reduce disease resistance in offspring, and be detrimental to survival.
Professor Guillette from the University of Florida says that the occurrence of such problems in wildlife suggests that humans may face similar situations, which is concerning.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 081209/ 2/ 1aufh. html
2008/12/09 15:13