Health

Chemicals in consumer products and food affect unborn baby boys

by Suranee | May 14, 2009 at 07:25 pm

391 views | 36 Recommendations | 7 comments

Richard Sharpe, a Professor of the Medical Research Council says chemicals in many food, cosmetic and cleaning products put unborn baby boys at greater risk of developing cancer and infertility later in life.

The Professor who is one of Britain’s leading reproductive biologists states the chemicals are responsible for developing cancer and infertility later in life and will raise rates of birth defects and testicular cancer and falling sperm counts.

London, May 14 (ANI): Gender-bending chemicals found in many food, cosmetic and cleaning products put unborn baby boys at greater risk of developing cancer and infertility later in life, a leading scientist has warned.

According to Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council, the hormone-disrupting chemicals are “feminising” boys in the womb.

While explaining the harmful effects, the expert linked the chemicals to raising rates of birth defects and testicular cancer and falling sperm counts.

Sharpe, one of Britain’s leading reproductive biologists, added that the chemicals block the action of the male sex hormone testosterone, or mimic the female sex hormone oestrogen, reports The BBC.

The chemicals include phthalates, Bisphenol, pyrethroids, linuron, vinclozolin and fenitrothion.

The chemicals include phthalates found in vinyl flooring, plastics, soaps, toothpaste; Bisphenol found in babies’ bottles and food can linings, mobile phones, computers and pesticides like pyrethroids, linuron, vinclozolin and fenitrothion.

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Uwe Paschen

at 19:48 on May 14th, 2009

Accumulative effect. What will kill most Humans soon enough.

Suranee

at 20:43 on May 14th, 2009

I think so too Paschen.

jazzyzazzy

at 00:27 on May 15th, 2009

goodness gracious me! how scary is that.

Suranee

at 02:46 on May 15th, 2009

With all the chemicals that are being used in food and consumer products these days Jazzyzazzy, it's not surprising that something like this could happen.

Barbara McPherson

at 08:37 on May 15th, 2009

This is a real wake up call. There also seems to be a disquieting trend in birth ratios of males to females in some areas. Normally more boys are born but in some areas boy babies are becoming quite rare.

Suranee

at 18:46 on May 15th, 2009

It does seem that in some areas of the world there are less baby boys born.

There was a study done a few years back on this and the researchers thought that temperature could be one obvious potential factor that affects fertility and gender ratios.

The chances of giving birth to a boy increase as you head south, researchers have said.

They studied birth rates across Europe and found the proportion of boys over girls rose with the temperature.

The research team at St Luke's Hospital in Malta could not suggest why this might be the case, but suggested warmth might affect fertility and gender ratios.