Phthalate warning:Medications contain chemicals that **feminize**unborn baby boy

[Guest guest]

Phthalate warning: Medications contain chemicals that **feminize** unborn

baby boys

_http://www.naturalnews.com/027514_phthalates_feminization.html_

(http://www.naturalnews.com/027514_phthalates_feminization.html)

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor

 

 

(NaturalNews) In a bombshell finding that has far-reaching implications

for society and culture, scientists at the University of Rochester have found

that phthalates -- the chemical found in many vinyl and plastic products

-- tends to " feminize " boys, altering their brains to express more feminine

characteristics. The study has been published in the Journal of Andrology.

 

 

Phthalates are found in vinyl products (including vinyl flooring), PVC

shower curtains, plastic furniture and even in the plastic coating of the

insides of dishwashing machines.

 

 

The feminization process happens during pregnancy when phthalate exposure

causes hormone disruptions in the unborn baby. This chemical feminizes

males by disrupting the action of the hormone testosterone.

 

 

In this recent study, researchers found a strong correlation between the

types of toys that male children play with and the level of phthalates found

in their mothers when they were pregnant. Researchers discovered that boys

exposed to high levels of phthalates in the womb tend to avoid playing

with cars, trains or toy guns. They also avoided rough play, instead

preferring more feminine toys and activities. (Barbie?)

 

 

Phthalates used in pharmaceutical coatings

 

What very few people know about phthalates is that they are used in the

coatings of pharmaceuticals to create " enteric " coatings. This means that

many people taking certain pharmaceuticals are unknowingly eating phthalates.

If expectant mothers take such pharmaceuticals during pregnancy, they may

then feminize their unborn male babies.

 

 

How do we know phthalates are used in pharmaceuticals? This Google Books

link ( (_http://books.google.com/books?id=e7..._

(http://books.google.com/books?id=e7_Gpn5BgcYC & pg=RA1-PA330 & lpg=RA1-PA330 & dq=pht\

halates+enteric & source=bl

& ots=EDOzRvcUnF & sig=PUvraeiMSXvNuON0lbn79Vgz9b8 & hl=en & ei=yXkBS7i5IoSrngfa76W

LCw & sa=X & oi=book_result & ct=result & resnum=5 & ved=0CCEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage & q= & f=fa

lse) ) shows a page from the Handbook of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Formulations: Over-the-counter products. In it, a recipe is given for

manufacturing a clear enteric coating. The ingredients are:

 

Acetone

Purified water

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Phthalate

Vanillin

Acetylated Monoglycerides

Alcohol

 

 

This combination of highly toxic chemicals is cooked, stirred and then

used to coat pharmaceutical pills that people actually swallow!

 

 

Here's a patent that describes the process in more detail:

_http://www.wikipatents.com/5723151.html_

(http://www.wikipatents.com/5723151.html)

 

 

Phthalates in antidepressant SSRI drugs

 

These phthalate chemicals are also used in antidepressant drugs. Here's a

patent that describes the process: " Controlled Release Compositions of an

Antidepressant Agent " _http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/200_

(http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/200) ...

 

 

As the patent explains:

 

" ...the enteric coating polymer is selected from the group consisting of

cellulose acetate phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, methacrylicacid

copolymer, cellulose acetate trimellitate, shellac, hydroxypropyl

methylcellulose phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate and

combination thereof. "

 

 

Another section says:

 

" ..the plasticizer is selected from diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate,

cetyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol-4000, triethyl citrate, triacetin or

propylene glycol. "

 

 

Now here's the real kicker: The drug companies are pushing to have

expectant mothers dosed with antidepressant drugs during pregnancy! This is

supposedly to prevent " post-partum depression " but the real reason is because

Big

Pharma simply wants to sell more drugs and pregnant women are the next

target on the list.

 

 

But taking these drugs results in toxic phthalate levels in the body that

are 50 times greater than a " normal " contamination level. As this study

published in Environmental Health Perspectives explains:

 

 

" Select medications might be a source of high exposure to some phthalates,

one of which, DBP, shows adverse developmental and reproductive effects in

laboratory animals. These results raise concern about potential human

health risks, specifically among vulnerable segments of the general population

and particularly pregnant women and children. "

(_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art)

....)

 

 

If expectant mothers are taking more antidepressants coated with

phthalates that cause the feminization of boys, we are going to be looking at

the

mass feminization of males in modern society.

 

 

Along with this mass feminization, you can expect to see dropping sperm

counts (already happening), increased infertility and the emergence of more

feminine physical characteristics among men.

 

 

Many would say this hormonal shift is already underway.

 

 

Macho Macho Man! (to quote The Village People)

 

If you look at the transformation of men in modern society over the last

50 years or so, there appears to be a measurable trend towards more feminine

looks and behavior. NaturalNews doesn't judge this one way or the other --

it's just an observation of a trend.

 

 

We all need to be mindful when discussing this topic due to potential

issues ranging from male **femininity** to homosexuality. There is no

indication from this particular study that phthalate exposure in the womb tends

to

cause boys to adhere to any particular sexual orientation, but it's

probably a question that scientists will be asking: Does exposure to

hormone-disrupting chemicals tend to alter the behavioral sexual expression of

developing babies?

 

 

And if so, what's **normal** anyway? Is it normal for boys to grow up

playing with toy guns and fighting all the time? Some might label that an

overly-aggressive expression of testosterone. It is arguably too much

testosterone that has landed our planet in a perpetual state of military

conflict,

after all. Clearly, this research brings up some intriguing questions about

nutrition, chemical exposure, sexual orientation and societal norms. It all

deserves a tremendous amount of thoughtful discussion.

 

 

In any case, there does seem to be a subtle shift taking place toward the

feminization of men. The full extent of the role of plastics chemicals in

this matter has yet to be understood, but it certainly has an impact.

 

 

A recent 326-page report from the State of Denmark, by the way, warns that

today's children are exposed to hundreds of " gender-bender " chemicals

found in products like sunscreen lotions, moisturizing creams, rubber boots and

bed linens

(_http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/geoffrey-lean/6418553/Why-boys-a\

re-turning-into-girls.html_

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/geoffrey-lean/6418553/Why-boys-ar\

e-turning-into-girls.html)

)

The title of the article? " Why boys are turning into girls... "

 

 

Does taking the Pill make feminine men more attractive to women?

 

At the same time this is going on, there is evidence that women who take

birth control pills also have their hormones unknowingly altered to be more

attracted to feminine males.

 

 

Here's a fascinating story on this very topic, with lots of example photos

of macho men vs. feminine men: _http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a_

(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a) ...

 

 

As long as we're on this touchy subject, I might as well mention that PETA

recently ran advertisements claiming that hormones in animal products

cause men to grow " man boobs. " Their campaign slogan is, " Dude looks like a

lady. Lose the breasts. Go vegetarian. " (_http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/_

(http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/) ...)

 

 

These are just a few examples of the complex issues that surface during

any investigation of sexual expression, sexual orientation and the

consumption of chemically-laced foods or medicines. Clearly, what you put in

your

mouth (or on your skin) affects your hormone balance, and today's consumers

are assaulted with a bewildering array of toxic chemical substances such as

phthalates.

 

 

Body care products are another source of phthalates

 

As it turns out, foods and pharmaceuticals may not be the only source of

phthalate exposure you need to be concerned about. Phthalates are also

commonly used in personal care products -- especially " baby " products such as

baby shampoos, baby lotions and baby powders. From Wikipedia:

 

 

" Body care products containing phthalates are a source of exposure for

infants. The authors of a 2008 study 'observed that reported use of infant

lotion, infant powder, and infant shampoo were associated with increased

infant urine concentrations of [phthalate metabolites], and this association is

strongest in younger infants. These findings suggest that dermal exposures

may contribute significantly to phthalate body burden in this population.'

Though they did not examine health outcomes, they noted that " Young infants

are more vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of phthalates given

their increased dosage per unit body surface area, metabolic capabilities,

and developing endocrine and reproductive systems. "

 

 

So even if your baby is born with a macho mustache and leather tool belt

already buckled around his waist, exposure to phthalate chemicals in baby

personal care products might disrupt his hormones and have a feminizing

effect. It's yet another reason to avoid all conventional personal care

products. (Phthalates aren't the only chemical contaminant found in those toxic

products...)

 

 

Drink from glass if you want to stay hormonally balanced

 

Phthalates aren't the only chemicals you need to avoid in plastics --

there's also BPA (Bisphenol-A). To avoid such gender-bender chemicals,

hormonally-aware men like Daniel Vitalis (_www.DanielVitalis.com_

(http://www.danielvitalis.com/) ) drink only from glass containers. They avoid

plastics like

the plague. " When you drink bottled water, " Vitalis once told me, " you're

actually drinking a 'plastic tea' beverage. "

 

 

And that plastic tea may very well disrupt your hormones, causing strange

biological effects for both men and women. Think about that the next time

you pick up a bottle of water bottled by Coke or Pepsi (Dasani or Aquafina).

 

 

If you want to protect your manliness (or your womanhood), stay away from

plastics! Doubly so if you're a soon-to-be mom and you want your child to

be born with unaltered hormone function.

 

 

For all the men out there, stay away from pharmaceuticals, since you never

know what sort of bizarre chemical concoctions might be coating those

pills. Swallowing enteric-coated antidepressants may very well lead to the

shrinkage of your precious man junk, causing even more serious depression!

 

 

Editor's note: I realize the subjects presented here may create a

firestorm of discussion or debate among NaturalNews readers. For the record,

NaturalNews does not condone the idea that little boys have to play with cars

and

toy guns to be considered " normal. " And men don't necessarily have to be

macho macho men in order to be " real " men. There are too many gender

stereotypes in society today, including the idea that little girls have to play

with Barbie dolls to be normal. My personal view is that I honor and respect

each individual human being for who they are, regardless of their sexual

orientation, skin color, religious beliefs, etc. And in terms of gender

expression, my own opinion is that parental messages and societal cues probably

have at least as much impact on gender expression as hormone-disrupting

chemicals. Feel free to discuss these topics in the comment section, below.

 

 

Sources for this story include:

 

_http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8361863.stm_

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8361863.stm)

_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates_

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates)

 

Hernández-Díaz S, Mitchell AA, Kelley KE, Calafat AM, Hauser R (February

2009). " Medications as a potential source of exposure to phthalates in the

U.S. population " . Environ. Health Perspect. 117 (2): 185–9.

doi:10.1289/ehp.11766. PMID 19270786