Are She Men The Future?

Along the same topic line as Larry’s post, I just read an article about the effects of pollutants on the reproductive Health of Male Vertebrate.

The Report is extensive, and backed by some of the worlds leading scientist covering everything from fish life to humans. (the study was published about a month ago, but I am sure nothing has changed within that month to make it less relevant)
The Report was published by the charity CHEMTrust and concentrates on all the male species of the Vertebrate, concluding that male species From bony fish to Polar bears and human and many in between have been effected by the Chemicals in the environment.
Some of the High lights, according to the Independent (Low Lights would be a more suitable term maybe)

“This research shows that the basic male tool kit is under threat,” says Gwynne Lyons, a former government adviser on the health effects of chemicals, wrote the report.

Wildlife and people have been exposed to more than 100,000 new chemicals in recent years, and the European Commission has admitted that 99 per cent of them are not adequately regulated. There is not even proper safety information on 85 per cent of them.

Many have been identified as “endocrine disruptor’s” - or gender-benders - because they interfere with hormones. These include phthalates, used in food wrapping, cosmetics and baby powders among other applications; flame retardants in furniture and electrical goods; PCB, a now banned group of substances still widespread in food and the environment; and many pesticides.

Fish were among the first to show Gender bender effects as they are totally immersed in the chemicals as they swim, and a large percentage are developing eggs in there testes - a large portion of this could be blamed on the contraceptive pills that pass through the sewers spreading the hormones they contain. This is a world wide phenomena.

The University of Florida concluded that the formally indestructible Cane toads are now 40 % hermaphrodites with another 29%  undergoing lesser femminisation Due to being exposed to farming pesticides.

There is more and it doesn’t get better, as the study progresses.

Go over the the Independent for more of the highlights.

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