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Topic: feminising capacity of phthalates (Read 972 times) |
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Fritz
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feminising capacity of phthalates
« on: 2009-11-16 12:53:22 » |
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[Fritz]So I wonder if 'adult toys' have a more far reaching effect, as well ? 
Source: BBC News
Author: n/a
Date: Monday, 16 November 2009
Plastic chemicals 'feminise boys'
Chemicals in plastics alter the brains of baby boys, making them "more feminine", say US researchers.
Males exposed to high doses in the womb went on to be less likely to play with boys' toys like cars or to join in rough and tumble games, they found.
The University of Rochester team's latest work adds to concerns about the safety of phthalates, found in vinyl flooring and PVC shower curtains.
The findings are reported in the International Journal of Andrology.
Plastic furniture
Phthalates have the ability to disrupt hormones, and have been banned in toys in the EU for some years.
However, they are still widely used in many different household items, including plastic furniture and packaging.
There are many different types and some mimic the female hormone oestrogen.
The same researchers have already shown that this can mean boys are born with genital abnormalities.
Now they say certain phthalates also impact on the developing brain, by knocking out the action of the male hormone testosterone.
Dr Shanna Swan and her team tested urine samples from mothers over midway through pregnancy for traces of phthalates.
The women, who gave birth to 74 boys and 71 girls, were followed up when their children were aged four to seven and asked about the toys the youngsters played with and the games they enjoyed.
Girls' play
They found that two phthalates DEHP and DBP can affect play behaviour.
Boys exposed to high levels of these in the womb were less likely than other boys to play with cars, trains and guns or engage in "rougher" games like playfighting.
Elizabeth Salter-Green, director of the chemicals campaign group CHEM Trust, said the results were worrying.
"We now know that phthalates, to which we are all constantly exposed, are extremely worrying from a health perspective, leading to disruption of male reproduction health and, it appears, male behaviour too.
"This feminising capacity of phthalates makes them true 'gender benders'."
She acknowledged that the boys who have been studied were still young, but she said reduced masculine play at this age might lead to other feminised developments in later life.
But Tim Edgar, of the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates, said: "We need to get some scientific experts to look at this study in more detail before we can make a proper judgement."
He said there were many different phthalates in use and the study concerned two of the less commonly used types that were on the EU candidate list as potentially hazardous and needing authorisation for use.
DBP has been banned from use in cosmetics, such as nail varnish, since 2005 in the EU.
The British Plastics Federation said: "Chemical safety is of paramount importance to the plastics industry which has invested heavily in researching the substances it uses.
"Moreover, the new European Chemical Regulation, REACH, will ensure further rigorous evaluation and testing or chemical substances and their uses."
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Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
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Hermit
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Re:feminising capacity of phthalates
« Reply #1 on: 2009-11-16 12:57:41 » |
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Of course, "knocking out the action of the male hormone testosterone" on the brain might lead to an altogether better world.
Hermit&Co
(The bearded Hermit may not agree)
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With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg, 1999
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Fritz
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Re:feminising capacity of phthalates
« Reply #2 on: 2009-11-16 14:59:06 » |
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Quote:| [Hermit&Co.]Of course, "knocking out the action of the male hormone testosterone" on the brain might lead to an altogether better world. |
[Fritz] now now .... it may not all be an upside when sharing a world with us bearded folk 
Memory Loss
Because testosterone receptors are abundant in the brain, low testosterone levels often affect memory.
Apathy, Depression, Grumpiness
Our laboratory data show that approximately 3/5 of men with self reported symptoms including aggression, apathy, depression, irritabiliy and an inabiliy to cope have at least one out of range hormone result. It isn‘t clear whether restoring hormone balance will lessen these mood symptoms, but many men experience some relief from mood disorders when hormone balance is restored.
Source: http://www.rmalab.com/index.php?id=9
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Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
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Hermit
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Re:feminising capacity of phthalates
« Reply #3 on: 2009-11-16 18:11:54 » |
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I don't know why. I am usually quite agreeable :-P
Hermit
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With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg, 1999
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