Toxin In Plastics Harming Unborn Boys

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Toxin In Plastics Harming

Unborn Boys

Scientists Say Chemicals Have Gender Bending Effect

By Ian Sample

Science Correspondent

The Guardian - UK

5-26-5

 

Scientists in America have found the first evidence that common

chemicals used in products as diverse as cosmetics, toys, clingfilm and

plastic bags may harm the development of unborn baby boys.

 

Researchers have long known that high levels of substances called

phthalates have gender-bending effects on male animals, making them more

feminine and leading to poor sperm quality and infertility. The new study

suggests that even normal levels of phthalates, which are ubiquitous, can

disrupt the development of male babies' reproductive organs.

 

Article continues The discovery poses a huge problem for the

chemical industry, which is already embroiled in a battle with the

government over EU proposals on chemical safety.

 

Several types of phthalates, which are used to make plastics more

pliable, and have been around for more than 50 years, have been banned, but

many are still produced in vast quantities.

 

The study was carried out by scientists from centres across the US,

including the University of Rochester and the National Centre for

Environmental Health.

 

The researchers measured the levels of nine widely used phthalates

in the urine of pregnant women and compared them with standard physiological

measurements of their babies.

 

Tests showed that women with higher levels of four different

phthalates were more likely to have baby boys with a range of conditions,

from smaller penises and undescended testicles to a shorter perineum, the

distance between the genitals and the anus. The differences, say the

authors, indicate a feminisation of the boys similar to that seen in animals

exposed to the chemicals.

 

Shanna Swan, an obstetrician at the University of Rochester, and

lead scientist on the study, said researchers must now unravel what kinds of

products are most to blame. One way that phthalates get into the bloodstream

is when they seep into food from plastic packaging.

 

" It's going to take a while to work out which of these sources is

most relevant to human exposure, " she said.

 

Although the observed differences in body measurements were subtle,

they indicate that what is generally regarded as the most ubiquitous class

of chemicals is having a significant effect on newborns.

 

" Every aspect of male identity is altered when you see this in male

animals, " said Fred vom Saal, professor of reproductive biology at the

University of Missouri-Columbia. Levels of aggression, parenting behaviour

and even learning speeds were affected, he said.

 

Andreas Kortenkamp, an expert in environmental pollutants at the

School of Pharmacy in London, said: " If it's true, it's sensational. This is

the first time anyone's shown this effect in humans. It's an indicator that

something's gone seriously wrong with development in the womb and that's why

it's so serious. "

 

He added: " These are mass chemicals. They are used in any plastic

that is pliable, whether it's clingfilm, kidney dialysis tubes, blood bags

or toys. Sorting this out is going to be an interesting challenge for

industry as well as society. "

 

The work, which is to appear in the journal Environmental Health

Perspectives, is due to be presented at the Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Forum in San Diego on June 3.

 

Gwynne Lyons, toxics adviser to the WWF, said: " At the moment

regulation of the chemicals industry is woefully inadequate. "

 

She added: " Right now the government is looking at how the

regulation of hormone disrupting chemicals could be made more effective

under new EU chemicals law, but the chemicals industry is lobbying very hard

to water down this legislation.

 

" Political agreement on this legislation is not expected until later

this year so it remains to be seen whether the UK government has the guts to

stand up to industry lobbying. If they don't, wildlife and baby boys will be

the losers. "

 

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1493505,00.html