An effect was identified among the sons of women with higher concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in their prenatal urine. On average, those boys scored 8 percent further away from the masculine end of the scale than other boys.

Two studies published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives in 2003 found that pregnant women who are exposed to phthalates may be at risk of shortened pregnancy. Women who were exposed to the chemicals gave birth more than one week earlier than women who were not exposed to them.

Although it’s not clear exactly how phthalates impact the developing fetus, it’s believed they may play a role in inducing an intrauterine inflammatory process, which is a well-established risk factor for premature birth.

In addition, the more a pregnant woman is exposed to high levels of phthalates, the greater the risk her son will have smaller genitals and incomplete testicular descent, leading to impaired reproductive development. The chemical also appears to make the overall genital tracts of boys slightly more feminine.

It is believed that phthalates have these adverse effects because they reduce testosterone synthesis by interfering with an enzyme needed to produce the male hormone. This raises yet another worry: What if they also alter other biological processes dependent on this hormone? Why wouldn’t they?

This latest study adds to the growing body of evidence showing the harmful effects these chemicals have on males in particular.

Women who had higher concentrations of two types of phthalates (DEHP, and DBP) also had boys who appeared more feminized in their personality, while playing.

The presence of phthalates in the mothers was not associated with any differences in the girls’ play behavior. However, that is NOT an indication that phthalates are “safe” for women.

They also affect women’s endocrine systems and reproductive health although the effects are different between the genders.

The glands of your endocrine system and the hormones they release influence almost every cell, organ, and function of your body. It is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, as well as sexual function and reproductive processes.

One indication that this is an issue for both male and female is that infertility is on the rise. Girls are also reaching puberty earlier than ever before.

Bovine growth hormones used in food production, soy foods, and bisphenol-A (BPA), just to name a few, add to the problem as they also mimic estrogen and disrupt your endocrine system.

Other studies have linked the chemical to thyroid problems in both women and men, and researchers have also suggested a link between phthalates and illnesses like allergies, asthma, and contact dermatitis, all of which are on the rise in children.

Common Sources of Phthalates

Phthalates, or “plasticizers,” are a group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible and resilient. They’re one of the most pervasive of the endocrine disrupters.

Phthalates are found in, among other things:

• Processed food packaging
• Hoses
• Raincoats
• Shower curtains
• Vinyl flooring and wall coverings
• Lubricant and adhesives
• Detergents
• Beauty products like nail polish, hair spray, shampoo, deodorants, and fragrances
• Toys

Other Gender-Bender Chemicals to Watch Out For

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are everywhere these days and can be difficult to avoid unless you take decisive steps to limit or eliminate them from your immediate surroundings. This is particularly important if you are pregnant, or planning a pregnancy.

Reading labels is a necessity these days. PVC plastics, which contain phthalates, will oftentimes carry the plastic recycling symbol # 3.

Some of the other gender-bender agents to look out for include:

• Bisphenol A (BPA) — a common ingredient in many plastics, including those in reusable water bottles and resins lining some food cans and dental sealants, can change the course of fetal development in a way that increases your risk of breast cancer.Plastic items carrying recycling symbol # 7 is oftentimes indicative of a BPA-containing plastic.
• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — found in grease- and water-resistant coatings like Teflon and Gore-Tex, is a likely carcinogen.
• Methoxychlor and Vinclozin– An insecticide and a fungicide respectively, have been found to cause changes to male mice born for as many as four subsequent generations after the initial exposure.
• Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) — Known to be potent endocrine disrupters, these chemicals affect gene expression by turning on or off certain genes, and interfere with the way your glandular system works. They mimic the female hormone estrogen, and have been implicated as one reason behind some marine species switching from male to female.
• Bovine growth hormones commonly added to commercial dairy have been implicated as a contributor to premature adolescence.
• Soy products, which are loaded with hormone-like substances.
• MSG — A food additive that’s been linked to reduced fertility.
• Fluoride — This chemical in the U.S. water supply has been linked to lower fertility rates, hormone disruption and low sperm counts.

For more information about the various health hazards inherent with each of these agents, please click on the individual links above.

How to Minimize Your Exposure to Chemicals That Can Harm Your Unborn Baby

In July 2008, the U.S. Congress finally passed legislation banning six types of phthalates from children’s toys and cosmetics. Legislators in Washington, Vermont and California have also restricted phthalate use in children’s goods, and several major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Lego, Evenflo and Gerber claim they will phase out phthalate-laden toys voluntarily.

Yet, so many more products contain endocrine disruptors of varying types, it’s far easier to memorize the healthiest options, rather than compiling a never-ending list of items to avoid.

Here are a number of practical techniques you can use to limit your exposure to endocrine disruptors, and other common toxins:

• As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic foods to reduce your exposure to pesticides and fertilizers.
• Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury, supplement with a high-quality purified fish or krill oil, or eat fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity.
• Eat mostly raw, fresh foods, steering clear of processed, prepackaged foods of all kinds. This way you automatically avoid artificial food additives of all kinds, including dangerous artificial sweeteners, food coloring and MSG.
• Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap.
• Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or bath).
• Only use natural cleaning products in your home.
• Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group has a great safety guide to help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals.
• Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.
• Replace your Teflon pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware.
• When redoing your home, look for “green,” toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings.
• Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric.

Using Ex-Im Bank’s multi-buyer, short-term insurance, Hague Quality Water has increased export sales by 87% over the past 5 years, expanding into fast-growing international markets with environmentally beneficial equipment that creates clean drinking water and promotes energy efficiency. The 100-employee, family-owned company has been an Ex-Im Bank customer for 13 years.

“Ex-Im Bank insures our receivables, and this lets us extend terms to international customers that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to offer,” said Hague Quality Water President Robert Hague. “Our export business has been growing faster than our domestic sales, and some weeks, it’s been exports that have kept our factory going full.”

“By working with innovative companies like Hague Quality Water, Ex-Im Bank not only helps these firms create and maintain U.S. jobs, but also supports U.S. environmentally beneficial exports to emerging markets around the word,” said Ex-Im Bank First Vice President and Vice Chair Linda Conlin.

Hague Quality Water exports to a wide range of markets, including China, Egypt, Japan, Latvia, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Western Europe.

The study, which began with a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has found that iodine-containing DBPs are much more toxic and genotoxic than other DBPs now regulated by EPA, according to University of Illinois geneticist Michael Plewa, the study’s author.

Plewa said another “somewhat surprising” discovery concerns nitrogen-containing DBPs. “Disinfectant byproducts that have a nitrogen atom incorporated into the structure are far more toxic and genotoxic, and some even carcinogenic, than those DBPs that don’t have nitrogen. And there are no nitrogen-containing DBPs that are currently regulated,” Plewa said.

Ironically, the DBPs that are regulated by the EPA tend to be some of the least toxic DBPs in Plewa’s study. “We’ve found that the emerging DBPs are much more genotoxic and much more cytotoxic. But I can’t fault EPA because these data were not present at the time, and in fact the development of the database of over 70 DBPs has been done in concert with our colleagues at the federal EPA.”

In addition to drinking-water DBPs, Plewa said that swimming pools and hot tubs are DBP reactors. “You’ve got all of this organic material called ‘people’ — and people sweat and use sunscreen and wear cosmetics that come off in the water. People may urinate in a public pool. Hair falls into the water and then this water is chlorinated. But the water is recycled again and again so the levels of DBPs can be tenfold higher than what you have in drinking water,” Plewa said, noting that studies show higher levels of bladder cancer and asthma in people who do a lot of swimming.

Plewa said the long-term study has resulted in what he considers the largest toxicological data base on emerging DBPs.

Plewa, along with a team of scientists, received an EPA science and technology award for their paper, “Occurrence, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of regulated and emerging disinfection by-products in drinking water: A review and roadmap for research.” It was published in the scientific journal Mutation Research.

Drinking the bath water may be less harmful than bathing in it. The skin is the largest organ of the body.  ln 1991, the EPA concluded that the average person can absorb more contaminants from bathing and showering than from drinking polluted water. The nicotine patch is the most wildly recognizable application of dermal absorbsion.

Children have a greater surface-area-to-body-weight ratio than adults, which may lead to increased dermal absorption.” Circulatory flow rates are generally higher in children, which may increase a child’s susceptibility to toxic effects.

The EPA regulates 83 contaminants under the current safe drinking water act. In the United States alone 80,000 different chemicals are used. Unfortunately the toxicity testing is for an individual contaminant like lead or mercury only. Scientists estimate that anyone alive today has at least a 700 contaminant cocktail called body burden.

Body burden is defined as the total amount of chemicals that are present in the human body at any given point in time. The chemicals can be inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin.

Because children have a higher circulatory rate and greater surface area to body weight ratio than adults they have a much higher percentage of body burden.

Recently more unregulated contaminants were found in our nation’s water at very low levels.

● Atenolol, a beta-blocker used to treat cardiovascular disease

● Atrazine, an organic herbicide banned in the European Union but still used in the United States, which has been implicated in the decline of fish stocks and in changes in animal behavior

● Carbamazepine, a mood-stabilizing drug used to treat bipolar disorder, among other things

● Estrone, an oestrogen hormone secreted by the ovaries and blamed for causing gender-bending changes in fish

● Gemfibrozil, an anti-cholesterol drug

● Meprobamate, a tranquilizer used in psychiatric treatment

● Naproxen, a painkiller and anti-inflammatory linked to increases in asthma incidence

● Phenytoin, an anticonvulsant that has been used to treat epilepsy

● Sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic used against the Streptococcus bacteria, which is responsible for tonsillitis and other diseases

● Trimethoprim, an antibiotic.

All the unregulated chemicals are at such low levels that symptoms are not easily noticeable.

Chlorine in the water does have some noticeable symptoms such as dry skin, or itchy skin. Simply removing the chlorine from the water for the entire home will show improvement within 2 weeks if the chlorine was the cause of the problems.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth are looking for children with moderate to severe eczema between the ages of six months and 16 years to take part in a clinical trial to determine if installing a water softener at home improves their conditions.

A participant who just completed one such trial said in the university’s news release that less than two weeks after a water softener unit was installed there was “dramatic improvement” in the condition of her son’s eczema.

Beside dermal absorbsion chemicals can also be inhaled in the form a gas or vapor that is released from the water when heated. Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) are a major concern for people who have respiratory problems ranging from asthma to emphysema.

Water softeners do not remove chlorine, other chemicals or VOC’s. The most effective way to remove all the chlorine and reduce the chemicals from the water for the entire home is with a large carbon filter system. These systems range greatly in size and price.

Carbon comes in various forms.  For whole house treatment granular activated carbon (GAC) is the best form.  One teaspoon of GAC has the surface area of a football field because of its porous structure.  Running municipally treated water through a large GAC filter will remove chlorine and reduce chemicals. Any chemicals that would be absorbed into the skin will be filtered into the GAC before entering the home.

Carbon filters are never to be used on a private well unless the water has been disinfected first.

After improving the water quality with a whole house filtration system to remove chlorine, chemicals and water hardness it’s almost time for a bath.

The last thing to consider is soap, shampoo and conditioner. The rule of thumb these days is, if you wouldn’t eat it; don’t put it in on your skin.

Find products free from things like hormone disrupters, parabens, sulfates, petroleum oils, dioxanes, phthalates, formaldehyde and propylene glycol.

As parents we are all concerned with the wellbeing of our children.  We spend countless hours researching environmental toxins, hormone disrupters and vaccination risks. As a parent I’m surprised to find out how many people don’t make the time to do the extensive research that we have done for our family. We feel it is time well spent, and will never look back and say, “We spent to much time and money protecting our children from environmental toxins.”

I’ve been so frustrated with my Ipod touch for the last few days because it won’t charge!

If only every product worked as well as a Hague Watermax!

not charging problem solved

There have been many posts on the Internet regarding Ipod touch not charging and I tried most of the things suggested.

Downloaded the latest version of Itunes. that didn’t correct it

Turned off my Wi-Fi connection. that didn’t correct it

I just randomly went into my settings

-> general

-> reset

-> reset network settings

After it completed what ever it did (this is weird)

The main icon screen came on and it showed my battery as fully charged! it was on red two minutes earlier???

That was weird, but the good news is when I plugged in my charger, it recognized the usb and ipod.

It’s charging!!!

This happened once before to me and i basically let it die (ran battery all the way out) and then I was able to charge it but I think it lost it’s settings.
I hope this helps someone else.

-Eric Foronjy

Researchers Shane Snyder and colleagues at the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas screened tap water from 19 US water utilities for 51 different compounds. The research, which is scheduled to appear in the next issue of the journal Environmental Science & Technology, indicates that all of the 11 most frequently detected compounds were found at extremely low concentrations.

According to the NewScientist.com article, the 11 most frequently detected compounds were:

● Atenolol, a beta-blocker used to treat cardiovascular disease

● Atrazine, an organic herbicide banned in the European Union but still used in the United States, which has been implicated in the decline of fish stocks and in changes in animal behavior

● Carbamazepine, a mood-stabilizing drug used to treat bipolar disorder, among other things

● Estrone, an oestrogen hormone secreted by the ovaries and blamed for causing gender-bending changes in fish

● Gemfibrozil, an anti-cholesterol drug

● Meprobamate, a tranquilizer used in psychiatric treatment

● Naproxen, a painkiller and anti-inflammatory linked to increases in asthma incidence

● Phenytoin, an anticonvulsant that has been used to treat epilepsy

● Sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic used against the Streptococcus bacteria, which is responsible for tonsillitis and other diseases

● TCEP, a reducing agent used in molecular biology

● Trimethoprim, an antibiotic.

Christian Daughton, Ph.D., of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Exposure Research Laboratory, said in the report that neither this nor other recent water assessments give cause for health concern. He added, “But several point to the potential for risk — especially for the fetus and those with severely compromised health.”

Snyder said in the report that water utilities could make drinking water purer; however, the costs of “extreme purification” are huge in terms of increased energy usage and carbon footprint, cautioning that ultra-pure water might not even be safe.

The study is funded by England’s Department of Health, and is being coordinated by the University of Nottingham.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth are looking for children with moderate to severe eczema between the ages of six months and 16 years to take part in a clinical trial to determine if installing a water softener at home improves their conditions.

A participant who just completed one such trial said in the university’s news release that less than two weeks after a water softener unit was installed there was a “dramatic improvement” in the condition of her son’s eczema.

According to the university, eczema has been reported to be more common in hard water areas such as Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, but no one really knows why. Study participants will have water softening devices fitted to soften all the water in the home except for tap water from a kitchen faucet. The study period is 16 weeks.