Some Pollutants Lead To Increased Male Birth Defects
Increased frequency of congenital male urologic anomalies, such as undescended testicles and hypospadias, occurred in boys whose mothers had higher levels of certain chlorine containing chemical pollutants, according to scientists at the American Urological Association meeting in Orlando Florida. Studies recently presented, reported that maternal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals – such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, such as Arochlor) and organochlorinated pesticides like DDT could contribute to an increased incidence of these conditions.Endocrine disrupting compounds are substances that interact with animals at the cellular hormone receptors. They can inappropriately bind to hormone receptors and cause a variety of problems including cancer and developmental problems.
Organochlorine Compounds include PCBs and organochlorinated pesticides such as DDT . These chemicals are lipid-soluble (fat soluble) compounds actively produced around the world in the middle of the 1900s. They were used in in farming and industrial processes. Although most of these chemicals were discontinued in the 1970s , the compounds still exist in the environment. They are absorbed and dispersed to living tissue and, as a result, can have a cumulative effect and cause toxin damage across generations. The United States banned their domestic production in 1977.
ref:
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