Concern for the Male Population

[Guest guest]

Concern for the Male Population

http://www.naturalnews.com/025076.html

 

 

Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, reports something is happening

to men and boys which concerns scientists and researchers: fewer boys are being

born than girls. How far-reaching is this problem? In a study by Dr. Devra Davis

of the University of Pittsburgh, the combined figures for U.S. and Japan is a

**staggering tally of 262,000 *missing boys* from 1970 to about 2000 because of

a decline in the sex ratio at birth.**

 

Scientists are also puzzled why there is a lopsided ratio of girls to boys being

born in the Canada's Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Interestingly enough, this

community is almost surrounded by petrochemical plants. In Canadian babies,

hypospadiasis has increased by 60% since the mid-1970*s. This is a disfiguring

defect, where the urinary opening is on the underside of the penis rather than

its normal anatomical position. Other countries are seeing an increase in this

condition as well.

 

From 1983 to 2005, young Canadian males in the 20 to 44 age bracket have seen a

54 per cent rise in testicular cancer. Testosterone levels in U.S. men have

declined by nearly 20% over the past two decades. Both fertility and virility

rates are down, including the shrinking size of male gonads.

 

There's a definite parallel in the animal kingdom. Man-made chemical toxins

frequently assault males of different species with fiercer effects. Amphibians

such as male toads are being feminized.

 

University of Florida zoologist, Dr. Theo Colborn, author of **Our Stolen

Future** and president of the Colorado-based Endocrine Disruption Exchange,

offered her expert opinion. She fears some chemicalsare impeding normal brain

development, with greater impact on males. As an example, she cites attention

deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as two to four

times greater in boys than girls. She also feels chemical exposures could

explain why enrollment at U.S. and Canadian universities favors females,

currently at 60 to 40 per cent.

 

The environmental impacts of phthalates in plastic inhibit

testosteroneproduction and possibly may cause irregular genital development.

Brominated flame-retardants may block the thyroidhormone critical to proper

development of both the testes and the brain. University of Missouri professor,

Dr. vom Saal, said, " This mishmash of synthetic hormones - leading to too much

estrogenand too little testosterone and thyroid hormone - is making " a mess of

sexual development in males. " He conducted studies relative to sperm

healthcomparing various geographic locations. A markedly lower sperm count in

males from farming areas verses urban areas suggests pesticidesare to blame.

 

Of the world*s 100,000 registered chemicals, many are endocrine disruptors,

exhibiting toxic hormonal effects along with carcinogenicity. Even in mere parts

per million, these chemicals can upset the intricate working of human hormones.

Xenoestrogens are found in DDT and other organophosphate pesticides, PCB*s,

plastics, bisphenol A, DES, as well as mercury and uranium. They*re in our food

and the air we breathe. This continuing chemical assault from pesticide

applications is taking a serious health toll. There is good reason to be

pro-active in lessening these assaults as much as possible, and the effects upon

men and boys is obviously a major one.