The Disappearing Male
August 31, 2013
Story at-a-glance
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“The Disappearing Male” gives an educational glimpse into
why environmental chemicals, and particularly the
gender-bending kind, are so detrimental to boys
-
Endocrine-disrupting environmental chemicals are interfering
with reproductive development, causing male birth defects to
increase along with infertility rates
-
Male sperm counts have been on the decline and males of all
species are becoming more feminized, likely due to rising
chemical exposures
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In one community close to a slew of chemical plants, two
girls are born for every boy, raising concerns about the
future of the human species
By Dr. Mercola
The chemical industry is only 100 years old, but in this
short time they’ve created substances that may now be
threatening human survival.
A handful of these chemicals are detailed in the film The
Disappearing Male, which gives an educational glimpse into
exactly why environmental chemicals, and particularly the
gender-bending kind, are so detrimental.
It’s becoming quite clear that chemicals in the environment
are prompting significant changes to animals, especially males,
and that extends to human ‘animals’ as well.
Infertility Rates are Rising as Sperm Counts Drop
One couple in the film described the waiting room at their
infertility clinic as similar to an emergency room – packed with
lines extending down the hall. Infertility is more common than
many think these days. An estimated 1 in 6 American couples
struggle with getting pregnant each year1
and there's compelling evidence that hormone-disrupting
environmental chemicals are partly to blame.
The problem with low sperm counts has become so severe that
the World Health Organization has had to continually drop
what’s considered a ‘normal’ sperm count to lower and lower
levels over the last several decades, lest too many men be
classified as infertile.
Chemicals that may disrupt sperm count and quality are
pervasive in today's modern world. They lurk in personal care
products, food containers, medical tubing, toys and more.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates are two of the most well known
culprits.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
BPA is a common ingredient in many plastics, including
those in water bottles and children's toys, as well as the
lining of most canned goods. It was recently discovered that
even many cash register receipts contain this chemical. BPA
is so pervasive it has been detected in the
umbilical cord blood of 90 percent of newborn infants
tested!
Recent studies have confirmed suspicions that BPA is
affecting male fertility, primarily by reducing semen
quality. One such study, which provides the first
epidemiological evidence of an adverse effect on semen
quality, was published in the journal Fertility and
Sterility.2
The researchers found that higher urine levels of BPA were
significantly associated with:
- Decreased sperm concentration
- Decreased total sperm count
- Decreased sperm vitality
- Decreased sperm motility
Compared with those who did not have detectable levels,
the men with detectable levels of BPA had more
than:
- Three times the risk of lowered sperm concentration
and lower sperm vitality
- Four times the risk of lower sperm count
- Twice the risk of lower sperm motility
In women, BPA can also reduce chances of successful in
vitro fertilization (IVF) by interfering with oocyte
(immature egg cell) quality. Two recent studies attest to
this. One found an inverse association between BPA
concentration and normal fertilization,3
and the other found that "BPA was detected in the urine of
the majority of women undergoing IVF, and was inversely
associated with number of oocytes retrieved and peak
estradiol levels."4
Phthalates
Phthalates are another group of chemicals that wreak
havoc with reproductive health. Exposure to phthalates can
lead to incomplete testicular descent in fetuses, reduced
sperm counts, testicular atrophy or structural abnormality
and
inflammation in newborns.
Phthalates are commonly found in vinyl flooring,
detergents, automotive plastics, soap, shampoo, deodorants,
fragrances, hair spray, nail polish, plastic bags, food
packaging, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage
bags, intravenous medical tubing, and more.
A 200% Increase in Male Genital Birth Defects
Gender-bending chemicals are the likely culprit behind a 200%
increase in male genital birth defects in recent years, the film
cited, highlighting one woman who believes her son’s undescended
testes falls into this category.
Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act in 1996,
which required the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
initiate the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) to
screen pesticides and other environmental chemicals for their
potential to affect the endocrine systems of both animals and
humans. According to the EPA:5
“In the 1990s, some scientists proposed that certain
chemicals might be disrupting the endocrine systems of
humans and wildlife. A variety of chemicals have been found
to disrupt the endocrine systems of animals in laboratory
studies, and compelling evidence shows that endocrine
systems of certain fish and wildlife have been affected by
chemical contaminants, resulting in developmental and
reproductive problems.”
However, despite the fact that nearly two decades have passed
since the beginning of the program, the market is literally
flooded with chemicals that have the potential to wreak havoc on
reproductive health, especially when exposure occurs in utero or
during childhood (as is often the case).
The strongest evidence showing that exposure to environmental
chemicals can lead to disruption of endocrine function comes
from the bizarre changes seen in a number of wildlife species,
such as male fish transforming into females;
frogs developing a variety of defects like multiple testes
or ovaries; and hermaphrodite bears, just to name a few.
The effects are being seen in humans as well. The
endocrine-disrupting chemicals phthalates, for instance are
linked to testicular atrophy or structural abnormality. In
experiments on rats, phthalates have demonstrably blocked the
action of fetal androgens, which affects
gender development in male offspring, leading to undescended
testes at birth and testicular tumors later in life.
Studies have also found that boys whose mothers had high
phthalate exposures while pregnant were much more likely to have
certain
demasculinized traits and produce less testosterone.
The more a pregnant woman is exposed to high levels of
phthalates, the greater the risk her son will have smaller
genitals and incomplete testicular descent, leading to impaired
reproductive development. The chemical also appears to make the
overall genital tracts of boys slightly more feminine. It is
believed that phthalates have these adverse effects because they
reduce testosterone synthesis by interfering with an enzyme
needed to produce the male hormone.
Even the Most Vulnerable Are Being Inundated with Gender-Bending
Chemicals
Studies have shown that premature babies are exposed to
extremely high concentrations of phthalates, which are widely
used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in
medical tubing and other medical equipment. With each plastic
tube that a newborn is hooked up to, the rate of phthalate
exposure increases. And for those premature infants who spend
weeks and months in the neonatal intensive care unit, the
exposure levels can be extraordinary.
A report released by the nonprofit organization Environment
and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) found that male infants exposed to
phthalates through medical procedures are most at risk of
suffering health effects.6
The phthalate di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, or DEHP, in particular,
is raising concern because of research linking it to:
Disturbed lactation |
"Decreased dysgenesis syndrome": A syndrome involving
cryptorchidism (undescended testicles), hypospadias
(birth defect in which opening of urethra is on the
underside of the penis instead of at the end),
oligospermia (low sperm count), and testicular cancer |
Interference with sexual differentiation in utero |
Enlarged prostate glands |
Impaired ovulatory cycles and polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS) |
Numerous hormonal disruptions |
Early or delayed puberty |
Breast cancer and uterine fibroids |
A typical American comes in regular contact with some 6,000
chemicals and an untold number of potentially toxic substances
on a less frequent basis. There are approximately 75,000
chemicals regularly manufactured and imported by US industries,
so you could be exposed to any number of them. Disturbingly,
most of them have never been adequately tested for safety for
adults, let alone their impacts on the most vulnerable among us,
our children.
The chemical industry has, in fact, resisted testing
chemicals on developing bodies, as might occur when a fetus is
exposed in utero, likely because they’d have trouble explaining
away all the ill effects that are likely to be revealed.
Furthermore, there is absolutely no toxicology research that
takes into account the effects of multiple, simultaneous
chemical exposures and their resultant synergistic toxicity,
which is what actually happens to exposed populations in the
real world.
The Chemical Industry Is One of the Most Powerful Lobbyists
Like the biotech, pharmaceutical and processed food
industries, the chemical industry wields incredible power over
Congress, and uses it to have bills passed in their favor – and
regulatory violations overlooked. Perhaps that is why, despite
the proven risks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
denied a petition to ban BPA from food packaging. The FDA
and most other US regulatory agencies are backed by
pro-industry, pro-corporation advocates who often have massive
conflicts of interest when it comes to protecting the health of
the public.
In fact, the revolving door between private industry and
government oversight agencies like the FDA is so well
established these days, it has become business as usual to read
about scandal, conflicts of interest and blatant pro-industry
bias, even when it flies in the face of science or the law. The
fact is, if you want to stay safe, you can’t depend on the FDA,
the EPA or any other government agency; you’ve got to look out
for yourself.
Protecting Yourself in a Chemically Driven World
No one knows what health consequences to this toxic chemical
cocktail will cause to an adult, let alone a developing baby.
Unfortunately, it is our future generations, and possibly the
species as a whole, who will likely pay the heftiest price for
this lack of safety concern, as an embryo and fetus develop at a
much faster rate than adults.
While this development occurs, cell division and growth is
rapid -- and these rapid changes provide many opportunities for
mistakes to occur. It’s clear that boys appear to be at
particular risk but, really, no one is safe. I encourage
everyone with children or grandchildren to review Theo Colburn's
Our Stolen Future, which is one of the BEST resources
on this topic. Further, while you make the switch to remove and
reduce chemicals around your home, remember that one of the ways
to significantly
reduce
your toxic load is to pay careful attention to what you eat.
Organically-grown, biodynamic whole foods are really the key
to success here, and, as an added bonus, when you eat right,
you're also optimizing your body's natural detoxification
system, which can help eliminate toxins your body encounters
from other sources. Rather than compile an endless list of what
you should avoid, it's far easier to focus on what you
should do to lead a healthy lifestyle with as minimal a chemical
exposure as possible:
- As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and
organic free-range foods to reduce your exposure to
pesticides and fertilizers.
- Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish,
which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury,
supplement with a high-quality purified krill oil, or eat
fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity.
- Eat mostly raw, fresh foods, steering clear of
processed, prepackaged foods of all kinds. This way you
automatically avoid artificial food additives, including
dangerous
artificial sweeteners, food coloring and
MSG.
- Store your food and beverages in glass rather than
plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap and canned foods
(which are often lined with BPA-containing liners).
- Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are
found, install an appropriate water filter on all your
faucets (even those in your shower or bath).
- Only use natural cleaning products in your home.
- Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as
shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. The
Environmental Working Group has a great database7
to help you find personal care products that are free of
phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals. I also
offer one of the highest quality organic skin care lines,
shampoo and conditioner, and body butter that are completely
natural and safe.
- Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets,
fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.
- Replace your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or
glass cookware.
- When redoing your home, look for "green," toxin-free
alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor
coverings.
- Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of
fabric, or install a glass shower door. Most all flexible
plastics, like shower curtains, contain dangerous
plasticizers like phthalates.
- Limit your use of drugs (prescription and
over-the-counter) as much as possible. Drugs are chemicals
too, and they will leave residues and accumulate in your
body over time.
- Avoid spraying pesticides around your home or insect
repellants that contain DEET on your body. There are safe,
effective and natural alternatives out there.
© Copyright 1997-2013 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
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