How Phthalates Affect Testosterone and Male Health
Phthalates. Try and say that three times fast! (Actually, it's not that bad
- the 'ph' is silent.) "A little plastic each day can keep the testosterone away." That should be
our motto when it comes to phthalates: they are just plain dangerous.
Phthalates are not the nastiest chemical in our environment, but they are
everywhere. They are added in large quantities in most plastic products
you buy and are used in hundreds of agricultural, commercial, residential and
consumer products. They are in shampoos, pesticides, soaps, nail polish,
lotions, cosmetics, vinyl and fragranced detergents. Even worse, they are
used as the coating of some pills and supplements and in air fresheners sprayed
throughout homes and businesses.
What's a few phthalates amoung friends? Well, if you're a male, it's bad
news: phthalates are nasty xenoestrogens now associated with a host of
ills. Hardly a month goes by now without some new study showing the
negative effects of phthalates on both us and the environment.
Do you know the foods and drinks that increase erection-boosting
Nitric Oxide? Check out the
Peak Erectile Strength Diet where I show
you how to dramatically and naturally improve your erectile strength.
Phthalates are particularly damaging to children. If you have kids or know
anyone with children, I hope you'll encourage them to only use glass and stainless steel for cooking. (Also I
urge you to keep your use of canned products to an absolute minimum around any
boy pre-puberty.
See this link on Bisphenol-A for more details.)
What is so tragic is that scientists have known for 30+ years of the dangers of
phthalates, yet no one has done anything about it. One 1982 study for
example showed that phthalates shunted testosterone-boosting zinc away from the
testes. [6] A study a few years later verifed this and noted actual
testicular atrophy (shrinkage). [7]
Lest you think I am exagerrating, let me point out just a few of the studies
showing problems with phthalates:
1.
Effeminization. A recent study demonstrated that the higher the levels of
phlthates in the mother's urine, the less likely their boys were to play with
regular male toys, i.e. they appeared to be effeminized. [1] Extra estrogens
during these critical years can permanently alter the young male brain. Animal studies
clearly show that phthalate exposure can alter
SHBG, testosterone and LH (leutinizing hormone) levels. [2]
When does low testosterone
cause erectile dysfunction or harden your arteries? 300 ng/dl? 400?
Find out what the studies say in Low
Testosterone By The Numbers.
2. Testosterone. These are potent endocrine
disruptors that every hormone-luvin' male should avoid like the plague.
One
study examined dosages of 100, 80, 60, 40, 20, 10, 5, or 0% of the mixture.on
fetal rates and found a dose-dependent decrease in testosterone, meaning the
more phthalates, the less the testosterone. [4] Needless to say, this is very,
very bad for males in the fetus or young children.
3. Fertility. Further proof of phthalates' gonad-killing properties
are linked to lowered sperm quality [5] and DNA damage [6]. See my link on
Male Fertility for additional information.
4. ADHD. The decreased testosterone and other attributes of phthalates actually alter the male brain and one study showed a link to ADHD.
[8] For more information, see my link on Environmental Causes of ADHD.
5. Thyroid. Many studies have verified that phthalates alter thyroid
function. This is particularly dangerous for the little ones and one study
warned "even small changes in thyroid homeostasis may adversely affect human
health, and especially fetal neurological development may be vulnerable." [9]
This list could go on and on. Again, one should be as cautious as one's
budget will allow, buying organic - many pesticides are phthalates - and using
only stainless steel/glass for cooking and natural means for pest control.
REFERENCES:
1)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091116085040.htm
2) International Journal of Andrology, 29(1):172-180, Published Online 7 Feb
2006, "Possible impact of phthalates on infant reproductive health"
3)
Toxicological Sciences, 2008, 105(1):153-165, "A Mixture of Five Phthalate
Esters Inhibits Fetal Testicular Testosterone Production in the Sprague-Dawley
Rat in a Cum7) J Appl Toxicol, 1989 Aug, 9(4):277-83, "Mechanism of testicular atrophy
induced by di-n-butyl phthalate in rats". Part 1.
4) Toxicological Sciences, 2008, 105(1):153-165, "A Mixture of Five Phthalate
Esters Inhibits Fetal Testicular Testosterone Production in the Sprague-Dawley
Rat in a Cumulative, Dose-Additive Manner"
5) Environ Health Perspect, 2003, 111:1164-1169, "The Relationship between
Environmental Exposures to Phthalates and DNA Damage in Human Sperm Using the
Neutral Comet Assay"
6) Human Reproduction, 19(5):1121-1126."Demonstration of Chlamydia trachomatis
IgG antibodies in the male partner of the infertile couple is correlated with a
reduced likelihood of achieving pregnancy"
8)
Biological Psychiatry, 15 Nov 15 2009, 66(10):958-963, "Phthalates Exposure and
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Age Children"
9) European Journal of Endocrinology, 2006, 154(5):599-611, "Environmental
chemicals and thyroid function"