How Chemicals Affect Us
In this morning’s New York Times, Nicholas Kristof writesabout “
How Chemicals Affect Us.”
He begins by saying, “Scientists are observing withincreasing alarm that some very common hormone-mimicking chemicals can havegrotesque effects.” One of those effects is
infertility, but they also include breastcancer, low sperm counts, genital deformities, early menstruation, diabetes,and obesity.
These chemicals are in thermal receipts at the gas pump,ATMs, canned foods, cosmetics, plastics, and microwave popcorn packages.
While our government drags its feet on regulation, the scientiststhemselves are protecting their families. Kristof describes how John Peterson Myers,chief scientist at Environmental Health Sciences and a co-author of the newanalysis, doesn’t microwave in plastic, use pesticides in his own home, buycanned food, or request receipts at the ATM or gas station.