[Pharmwaste] Baby Boy Development Affected by Environment
Tenace, Laurie
Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
Tue, 23 Aug 2005 16:38:04 -0400
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http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=3D43240
=20
Baby Boy Development Affected by Environment
=20
Carrie Manders
=20
Created: 8/22/2005 5:19:13 PM
Updated: 8/22/2005 5:23:12 PM
GRAND RAPIDS - Thousands of man-made chemicals have been released into =
the
environment in the past 50 years. And research shows it has affected the
development of animal reproduction, but now there is mounting evidence =
it
could also affect human development.
One of the most exciting things for expectant parents is finding out if
they're having a boy or a girl.
But for the Machado family that excitement turned into anguish. "We had =
to go
a whole month without knowing if the baby was a girl or a boy."
Their baby's testicles were undescended and he looked like a little =
girl. But
instinct told them they had a little boy. "He had the big hands, the big
feet. And he looked like a little boy, his little shape."
Chromosome tests validated he was indeed a boy. But doctors in Texas =
where
they lived at the time recommended they raise him as a girl. "That he =
would
never be normal is what the told us."
Not happy with that diagnosis, the family moved to Michigan.
They met pediatric urologist doctor George Steinhardt who works at DeVos
Children's Hospital. "We are seeing increasing numbers of severe genital
deformities in boys not girls," says Steinhardt.
The reason why - Steinhardt believes it's our environment. "If the
insecticides and pesticides are in the mother's body they can affect
theoretically the developing genitals of the boys not girls," says
Steinhardt.
To prove that, Steinhardt is conducting research testing both the =
mothers'
and the baby boys' blood for specific man-made chemicals that increase =
the
woman's estrogen level. Chemicals found in the air, the water, and in =
the
food we eat. "The theory is if the male fetus is exposed to high levels =
of
estrogen input that their male parts can be changed into female parts," =
says
Steinhardt.
Luckily Steinhardt says reconstructive surgery can fix the problem in =
most of
these boys. Including the Machado's baby, who are thankful to be raising =
a
little boy. "It's like an angel for my son sent from heaven."
=20
=20
Laurie J. Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
PH: (850) 245-8759
FAX: (850) 245-8811
Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
=20
view our mercury web pages at:=20
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm
=20
=20
=20
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face=3DVerdana><span
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d'>Baby
Boy Development Affected by Environment</span></font></b></p>
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style=3D'width:100.0%'>
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3D"#0f0000" face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
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</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3D"#0f0000" =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:6.5pt;color:#0F0000'>Carrie =
Manders</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3D"#0f0000" face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman";color:#0F0000'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3D"#0f0000" =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:6.0pt;color:#0F0000'>Created: 8/22/2005 5:19:13 =
PM</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3D"#0f0000" =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:6.0pt;color:#0F0000'>Updated: 8/22/2005 5:23:12 =
PM</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3D"#0f0000" face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman";color:#0F0000'><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3D"#0f0000" =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:#0F0000'>GRAND =
RAPIDS</span></font><font
size=3D1 color=3D"#0f0000"><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:#0F0000'> -
Thousands of man-made chemicals have been released into the =
environment in
the past 50 years. And research shows it has affected the development =
of
animal reproduction, but now there is mounting evidence it could also =
affect
human development.<br>
<br>
One of the most exciting things for expectant parents is finding out =
if
they're having a boy or a girl.<br>
<br>
But for the Machado family that excitement turned into anguish. =
"We had
to go a whole month without knowing if the baby was a girl or a =
boy."<br>
<br>
Their baby's testicles were undescended and he looked like a little =
girl. But
instinct told them they had a little boy. "He had the big hands, =
the big
feet. And he looked like a little boy, his little shape."<br>
<br>
Chromosome tests validated he was indeed a boy. But doctors in Texas =
where they lived at the time recommended they raise him as a girl. =
"That he
would never be normal is what the told us."<br>
<br>
Not happy with that diagnosis, the family moved to Michigan.<br>
<br>
They met pediatric urologist doctor George Steinhardt who works at =
DeVos
Children's Hospital. "We are seeing increasing numbers of severe =
genital
deformities in boys not girls," says Steinhardt.<br>
<br>
The reason why - Steinhardt believes it's our environment. "If =
the
insecticides and pesticides are in the mother's body they can affect
theoretically the developing genitals of the boys not girls," =
says
Steinhardt.<br>
<br>
To prove that, Steinhardt is conducting research testing both the =
mothers'
and the baby boys' blood for specific man-made chemicals that increase =
the
woman's estrogen level. Chemicals found in the air, the water, and in =
the
food we eat. "The theory is if the male fetus is exposed to high =
levels
of estrogen input that their male parts can be changed into female
parts," says Steinhardt.<br>
<br>
Luckily Steinhardt says reconstructive surgery can fix the problem in =
most of
these boys. Including the Machado's baby, who are thankful to be =
raising a
little boy. "It's like an angel for my son sent from =
heaven."</span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Laurie
J. Tenace</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Environmental
Specialist</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Florida
Department of Environmental Protection</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>2600</span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> Blair Stone Road, =
MS</span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'> 4555</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Tallahassee</span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>, Florida =
32399-2400</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>PH:
(850) 245-8759</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>FAX:
(850) 245-8811</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><a
href=3D"mailto:Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us">Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.=
us</a></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>view
our mercury web pages at: </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><a
href=3D"http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm">=
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm</a></span=
></font></p>
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