XPost: alt.politics.homosexuality, sac.politics, alt.activism.children   
   XPost: rec.food.cooking   
   From: "@frank.net   
      
   On 2/2/2016 2:13 PM, Chem Queers wrote:   
   > New research regarding phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates), a   
   > known hormone disruptor found in hundreds of plasticized   
   > consumer products, adds to the growing scientific consensus of   
   > the public health danger they pose.   
   >   
   > Analyzing data collected from 362 women, scientists at the   
   > University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health found   
   > that in pregnant women higher levels of the hormone hCG, which   
   > is targeted by phthalates, was correlated with an abnormality in   
   > anogenital distance in male babies. The higher the hCG in the   
   > mother's blood, the shorter the distance between the anus and   
   > the scrotum in the male infants. Short anogenital distance is   
   > also strongly associated with lower sperm count in males.   
   >   
   > "Our study is the first to show that hCG is a target of   
   > phthalate exposure in early pregnancy and to confirm previous   
   > findings that it is a critical hormone in male development,"   
   > epidemiologist Jennifer Adibi told the Endocrine Society   
   > Thursday at its annual meeting in San Diego.   
   >   
   > Phthalates made big news in 2008 when the American Academy of   
   > Pediatrics reported that infants exposed to infant-care   
   > products, specifically baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby   
   > powder, showed higher than normal levels of phthalates  in their   
   > urine. Because they are known to disrupt hormones, several of   
   > them were severely restricted by Congress in children's toys and   
   > certain child-care articles.   
   >   
   > Nonetheless, various kinds of phthalates, which make plastic   
   > durable but flexible, are found in everything from raincoats to   
   > nail polish to vinyl flooring.   
   >   
   > Last year at least three major studies raised concerns about the   
   > ubiquity of phthalates. In July, in the journal Environmental   
   > Health, scientists reported that infants with normal diets,   
   > especially diets high in whole milk, cream and poultry, consume   
   > double the amount of phthalates the Environmental Protection   
   > Agency considers safe. Phthalates are known to migrate into food   
   > in a variety of ways, including through plastic food-packaging,   
   > gloves used in the preparation of food, conveyor belts that   
   > carry food during the packaging process and through the tubing   
   > used to milk cows. Phthalates are also used in some printing   
   > inks and adhesive labels found on many food wrappers.   
   >   
   > In November of 2014, scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg   
   > School of Health reported that because of phthalates in   
   > intravenous tubing, blood and fluid bags, premature babies can   
   > be exposed to 4,000 to 160,000 times the amount of phthalates   
   > considered safe.   
   >   
   > [Bacterial DNA from mom may be inherited]   
   >   
   > And in December, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman   
   > School of Public Health  linked prenatal exposure to phthalates   
   > to a more than six-point drop in IQ score compared with kids   
   > with less exposure.   
   >   
   > In another study whose findings were presented at Thursday's   
   > Endocrine Society meeting, Canadian researchers found that   
   > phthalates in household plastic product as well as in the flame   
   > retardant coating on most furniture foam cushions, is associated   
   > with increased risk of autism. Rats exposed to phthalates showed   
   > behaviors similar to those seen in humans with autism spectrum   
   > disorders, including reduced social interactions and increased   
   > hyperactive movements. In general, male rats were more affected   
   > than females and demonstrated less maternal bonding than females.   
   >   
   > Under the law, the Federal Drug Administration has no   
   > jurisdiction over cosmetic products and ingredients, including   
   > phthalates (with the exception of color additives), before they   
   > are sold to the public, and on its Web site the FDA says that it   
   > "does not have evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics   
   > pose a safety risk."   
   >   
   > Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and   
   > Prevention, "Human health effects from exposure to low levels of   
   > phthalates are unknown. Some types of phthalates have affected   
   > the reproductive system of laboratory animals. More research is   
   > needed to assess the human health effects . . . "   
   >   
   > https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-   
   > science/wp/2015/03/06/phthalates-found-in-hundreds-of-household-   
   > products-may-disrupt-sex-development-of-male-fetus/   
   >   
      
   The solution lies in the prevention of global warming.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)