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These man-made chemicals are endocrine mimics. By sheer chance, their molecule are perfectly shaped to form keys that open the hormonal locks that control the proper development and function our bodies.
They many do little harm to adults, but evidence mounts that they can wreak havoc in the development of fetuses and children:
Ana Soto, a professor of cell biology at tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, found that exposure to bisphenol A, a common ingredient in plastics such as reusable water bottles and the housing of laptop computers and in resins that line some food cans and dental sealants, can change the course of fetal development.
Fetal mice developed tissue associated with higher rates of breast cancer later in life. Soto's findings were presented in San Diego this summer at the yearly meeting of the Endocrine Society, the largest professional organization of endocrinologists.
Exposure to phthalates (Pronounced THAL-ates) comes from direct contact with products that contain them, such as vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastic, soap, shampoo, deodorants, fragrances, hair spray, nail polish, plastic bags, food packaging, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage bags and intravenous medical tubing, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Research published in the journal Environmental Health Perspective by epidemiologist Shanna Swan at the epidemiologist Shanna Swan at the University of Rochester in New York found an association between higher phthalate levels in pregnant women and changes in the genitals in their infant sons that suggest lower concentrations of male hormones and can lead to incomplete testicular descent.
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