Re: A World W/O Men
- From: 7match777 <mejohn@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:08:42 -0800 (PST)
On Feb 6, 6:15 pm, "theothr1" <theot...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The decline is due to plastic ingredients (endocrine disruptors) like
phthalates and bisphenol-A found in your water bottles as well as an array
of common everyday items.
*****
A World Without Men
Gender-bending industrial chemicals are skewing the birth ratio in favor of
baby girls. Could a world without men be a few short generations away?
By Elizabeth Barker
Last summer a team of Scandinavian scientists announced that twice as many
girls as boys are being born in the Arctic, a region said to serve as a
"pollution sink" for the rest of the planet. Earlier in the year a report
from the National Institute ofEnvironmentalHealth Sciences determined that
the ratio of male-to-female births has substantially dropped in the United
States and Japan, yielding about 250,000 fewer boys than would have been
born had the sex ratio circa 1970 endured. In both cases, researchers peggedenvironmentalexposures as a probable factor in the shortage of boy births.
As more and more research reveals a decline in the number of bouncing baby
boys born each year, scientists are zeroing in on a class of synthetic
chemicals known as endocrine disruptors. Including plastic ingredients like
phthalates and bisphenol-A, these commonplace compounds are known to mimic
female hormones and thwart the production of testosterone, explains Shanna
Swan, Ph.D., director of the Center for Reproductive Epidemiology at the
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. So far, most
studies have focused on how endocrine-disrupting chemicals can affect the
reproductive systems of animals. But in 2005 the journalEnvironmental
Health Perspectives published Swan's findings that - among a group of 85
mother-and-son pairs - boys whose moms had high levels of phthalates were
more likely to show signs of "demasculinization" (such as a shorter distance
between the anus and the genitals and incompletely descended testicles).
What's more, that recent report from the Arctic detected high levels of
hormone-mimicking pollutants in the blood of pregnant women throughout Inuit
villages with an excess of female births.
"Every month there is another study that suggests all these different
endpoints may be the same problem," says Charlotte Brody, R.N., executive
director of Commonweal, a Bolinas, California-based nonprofit health andenvironmentalresearch institute. And baby boys aren't the only population
threatened by endocrine disruptors: In another study published inEnvironmentalHealth Perspectives (released last year), University of
Rochesterenvironmentalhealth researcher Richard Stahlhut, M.D., linked
abdominal obesity and insulin resistance (two conditions associated with low
testosterone levels) to phthalate exposure in men. Women and girls,
meanwhile, face increased incidence of premature puberty, infertility and
breast cancer - all of which could be related in part to chemicals that
interrupt hormonal signaling, according to Brody.
Like about 95 percent of all synthetic chemicals used in the United States,
most endocrine disruptors were never tested for their impact on human
health - or on the environment - before turning up in our baby bottles,
plastic wrap and perfume. "What we need in this country is a government that
will protect us from all these dangerous chemicals, but instead there's no
one minding the store," says Brody. Stahlhut likens the current system to
the pre-FDA, "wild wild west" days of the pharmaceutical industry, when
there was little to no regulation of drugs and therapeutic products. "I'd
like for us to do better than that," he laments. "But if you look at any
health hazards we've already learned about - whether it's lead or smoking -
there's always been exposure for decades and decades before someone says,
'Oh, look, there's a problem here.'"
Perhaps most readily associated with pesticides and plastics, endocrine
disruptors are found in a dizzying array of everyday items, from laundrydetergentand lipstick to water bottles and children's toys. With studies
showing that the gender-bending chemicals may pose the greatest risk during
prenatal and early postnatal development,environmentalorganizations like
Healthy Child, Healthy World (HCHW) urge parents - and parents-to-be - to
curb their exposure to known endocrine disruptors such as phthalates.
"Children have increased vulnerability because their ability to detoxify isn't
as strong as the average adult's, and because their organ systems are still
developing," explains Christopher Gavigan, HCHW executive director and
author of the upcoming book Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Greener,
Cleaner, Safer Home. "Pregnant women are incredibly vulnerable as well,
since phthalates can enter the womb or be delivered later through breast
milk."
"Cutting back on plastic is key," says Gavigan. "The more natural materials
you have in your home, the better off your family is," Brody concurs. "That
goes for what you cook in, what you eat from, what your bed and your couch
are made from." To keep away from pesticides, eat organic whenever possible,
seek out gentler means of pest management and take off your shoes at the
door so you don't track in chemicals from outside. Using non-toxic cleaners
is another smart step, according to Brody. "The notion that a product has to
take your breath away to be strong enough to get your house clean is just a
Madison-Avenue-created bad idea for your health," she says.
Still, most enviro-experts warn that endocrine disruptors are ultimately
inescapable. "Even though I recommend choosing PVC-free, phthalate-free
products whenever possible, I can't say conclusively that it will
significantly reduce your exposure," says Swan. "These chemicals are so
pervasive, and you're probably not going to be able to eliminate them from
your food, drinking water, house dust and air." Brody agrees that although
her clean-and-green strategies serve as "little things that may make us a
bit safer," exposure to endocrine disruptors isn't a problem that can be
remedied through individual action. "The bigger issue is that we need a
government that punishes companies that make harmful products and rewards
those that don't," she says.
While national groups such as Women's Health and the Environment
(womenshealthandenvironment.org) are heading up critical awareness-building
and action campaigns to protect consumers against troublesome chemicals, the
most sweeping change has taken place beyond U.S. borders. Last year the
European Commission, for instance, enacted the REACH program, through which
all chemicals sold across the continent are now safety-tested before hitting
the market. "Like with climate change, the question is whether or not we're
going to let other countries take the lead," says Brody. "Either we're in
the way or we're out of the way."
Since the United States. isn't likely to get its own REACH program any time
soon, Stahlhut suggests "keeping Zen" while taking care to cut any avoidable
chemical exposure. "Given the way the current model works - where the
industry invents a new class of chemicals, turns it loose, and then 20 years
later someone asks if it's safe - it's important to choose less exposure
when possible, without being paranoid," he says. In other words, don't panic
or slip into despair anytime you end up sipping from a plastic bottle - but
go for glass whenever you can. "I think we should certainly be upset about
the way these things are handled and fight for a change," Stahlhut
continues. "But we also have to understand that this is the world we're
living in, and it's very imperfect. It's not an environment that allows us
to be completely clean, but we can always try to be cleaner."http://consciouschoice.com/2008/02/healthyliving0802.html
Soap Nuts (Soapnuts) - The Environmental Detergent
Have you ever thought about all the chemicals that we pour down the
drain daily? What impact do they have on our environment? What does
this mean for our children's future? How can we minimize the harmful
chemicals we use & save the environment at the same time? Soap Nuts
are the answer.
What are Soap Nuts?
Soap Nuts are not actually nuts at all, but berries (also known as
soap berries) that grow on trees in India & Nepal. They contain high
concentrations of saponin, which acts as a natural soap when it comes
into contact with water.
What can I use Soap Nuts for?
The most common & easiest use of soap nuts is as a laundry detergent.
Just place three or four half-shells of soap nuts in a muslin bag
(provided with most soap nuts orders) and throw it in with your
laundry instead of regular detergent and you are on your way to
becoming environmentally friendly. When using soap nuts in your
laundry, you do not even need a rinse cycle, thus preventing gallons
of water from unnecessarily going down the drain. If you want to
expand your soap nuts into a multi-purpose cleaner, simply boil 100 g
of soap nuts in 12 cups (3L) of water for 30 minutes. Fish out the
shells, throw them in your compost, & you are left with a highly
concentrated, natural, liquid detergent. For more applications, visit
http://SoapNuts.Wordpress.com
How does the use of Soap Nuts affect Grey Water?
Soap nuts are antimicrobial. After their detergent goes into the
sewer system, it helps break down the grey water into a more usable
form. The use of soap nuts actually benefit the environment, rather
than hurting it as the harmful chemicals we use do. Because of their
unique antimicrobial properties, soap nuts are also used in aid of
soil restoration.
What harmful chemicals are found in my regular laundry detergent?
Regular laundry detergents may contain any or all of the following:
* Enzymes - Are a skin sensitizer, but may cause dermatitis and
allergic reactions
* Sodium Hypochlorite - Causes lung irritations, bronchial or
respiratory reactions, cardiovascular damage, as well as eye and skin
damage.
* Nonylphenoxy Ethoxylates - Is an edocrine disruptor, and can cause
an activation of cellular estrogen receptors (even at low levels) This
is implicated in causes of a rise in breast and prostate cancer,
infertility issues, a decline in amphibian populations and the
reversal / feminization of birds, fish or reptiles.
Are Soap Nuts Gentle on my skin?
Yes. Soap nuts contain no chemicals, and are therefore non-
allergenic. Many people (myself included) who suffered from eczema
and other skin irritations have seen their problems diminish after
switching to soap nuts as a laundry detergent.
How does my Purchase of Soap Nuts affect India & Nepal?
Your purchase of soap nuts is beneficial to both the economy &
environment of India & Nepal. In these two countries, there are many
poor people. Because soap nuts are plentiful, they become non-
saleable locally. Therefore, soap nut trees become more valuable &
marketable as firewood than for the environmentally friendly soap nuts
that they grow. When soap nuts are marketed overseas, it employs
local residents to harvest them, which in turn, stimulates the
economy. At the same time, it makes the trees more valuable living
than dead. This helps save our tropical forests.
Soap Nuts are the Environmental Detergent.
The use of soap nuts reduces the use of harmful chemicals, helps in
restoring our polluted earth, and saves our tropical forests. Isn't
it time you did your part in painting a greener future for our
children?
For more information on soap nuts & pricing visit http://Stores.HotterThanHealth.com
.
- References:
- A World W/O Men
- From: theothr1
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