Two-year-olds at risk from 'gender-bending' chemicals, report says

Two-year-old children are being exposed to dangerous levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in domestic products such as rubber clogs and sun creams, according to an EU investigation being studied by the government.

The 327-page report says that while risks from "anti-androgen" and "oestrogen-like" substances in individual items have been recognised, the cumulative impact of such chemicals, particularly on boys, is being ignored.

The EU's environment council of ministers is due to agree on a regulatory approach to the use of so-called "gender-bender" compounds before Christmas. On Monday, EU officials will try to work out a strategy for creating risk assessments of products causing concerns. Environmental campaigners fear controls will favour industry and not be sufficiently robust.

Phthalates, one of the main anti-androgen chemicals, which are used as softeners in soap, rubber shoes, bath mats and soft toys, have been blamed for blocking the action of testosterone in the womb and are alleged to cause low sperm counts, high rates of testicular cancer and malformations of the sexual organs.

Research has suggested that male foetuses around 8-12 weeks after conception can be effectively demasculinised by exposure to such chemicals.

I worry about all the hormones (I’m guessing half the women in the country take them) are being peed into the water system daily. And all the soy products. They are making the girls mature earlier and the boys be wussies. Who was the weirdo in Dr. Strangelove who talked about our precious bodily fluids? I’ve become that guy.

“They are making the girls mature earlier and the boys be wussies. “

Just curious why you think that boys are growing up as ‘wussies’, and what constitutes being a ‘wussie’. Boys are also maturing at earlier ages, and the amount of violence in the streets and the amount of teenage pregnancy tells us that there is plenty of aggression and enough male hormone around to lead to pregnancies before emotional maturation. The average weight of high school football players has gone up substantially, and steroid use etc. is also a big problem, even in high school.

My point is that boys are not physically any less ‘male’ than other generations. I don’t think that’s what constitutes strength anyway. Some of the biggest guys and best and roughest athletes I’ve known are also the biggest babies I’ve known.

Strength is intestinal fortitude - living your principles irrespective of the personal cost, and being willing to give all for what you believe in. We still have plenty of young men and women willing to do this (e.g. the military, and the young man and woman who did the ACORN videos). When moral strength and intestinal fortitude is lacking I would look for other reasons other than hormone imbalance. I would look for how a child was raised, what they were exposed to, and what society has deemed valuable.

When moral strength and intestinal fortitude is lacking I would look for other reasons other than hormone imbalance. I would look for how a child was raised, what they were exposed to, and what society has deemed valuable.

You are right, that moral relativism has replaced moral absolutes in this country and within the school system. That is the major cause of difference in the attitudes and actions of people. But the physical health of the nation should not be discounted in that Natural Law is based on the healthy, correctly functioning body. If you distort nature, than it will surely add to the reasons for certain actions and attitudes and dysfunction in that society.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.