Scientist Links Chemical Cocktails to Male Infertility and Birth Defects
May 21, 2009 by DawnM
Filed under Endocrine Disruptors, Health Issues
Environmental Chemicals Linked to Birth Defects
Professor Richard Sharpe of the Medical Research Council highlighted in a report commissioned by CHEM Trust published last week that chemicals in consumer products may contribute to human male reproductive disorders that manifest at birth (cryptorchidism – undescended testes, hypospadias –where the opening of the urethra is abnormally positioned somewhere along the underside of the penis, between the base and just below the tip), or in young adulthood (impaired semen quality or testicular germ cell tumours). Such disorders are collectively referred to as Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome, a phrase coined by Professor Niels E Skakkebaek MD.
Europe Bans Two Chemicals From Cosmetics
February 10, 2009 by DawnM
Filed under Allergies & Asthma, Endocrine Disruptors, Europe, Health Issues, Neurotoxicity, Other Health, Regulation, United Kindom
Europe Bans Two Chemicals From Cosmetics
The European Union has prohibited two chemicals from being used in cosmetic products, in a recent amendment to the European Cosmetics Directive. From November 5, 2009 companies are barred from using diethylene glycol (DEG) or phytonadione. This action has been taken following the discovery of high levels of DEG in some toothpaste products from other markets. Although a representative of the industry trade association, the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumery Association (CTPA) suggested that reputable brands do not use DEG, trace levels are often present as an impurity in widely used ingredients such as glycerol.
Petrochemical Compounds: An Introduction
February 9, 2009 by DawnM
Filed under Allergies & Asthma, Cancer, Endocrine Disruptors, Health Issues, Neurotoxicity, Other Health
Lowdown on Petroleum Derived Compounds
A petrochemical compound is an organic (based on carbon) compound derived from crude oil (petroleum) or natural gas, which were formed millions of years ago in the earth’s crust from decayed plants and animals.
These two primary classes of petrochemical are olefins (e.g. ethylene, butylene and propylene) and aromatics (e.g. benzene, toluene and xylenes) produced by chemical cracking (breaking large hydrocarbon molecules into simpler molecules, aided by a catalyst and high temperatures) and catalytic reforming (used to convert low-octane naphthas into high-octane gasoline blending components and often benzene, toluene and xylene aromatics for Read more
