Green Building Discussion
Topic: Our Stolen Future and Hormone Mimicking
Discussion Participants:
- Alex Wilson brings up "Our Stolen Future"
- Bion Howard with some references on hormones
- Michael Totten on some web sites
- Pat Ballentine with a web site
- Terry Brennan with some more references
- Marc Rosebaum on other poly encounters
- Dave Warren on fallout from scary science
- Alex Wilson -EBN's review of "Our Stolen Future"
All postings are the opinion of the writer, and BuildingGreen can take no responsibility
for their accuracy or appropriateness.
Alex Wilson brings up "Our Stolen Future"
From: Alex Wilson
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 12:08 PM
Regarding environmental hormones: You should read the book "Our Stolen Future" by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Meyers (Dutton 1996). We reviewed this in the last issue of EBN (Nov-Dec 96). There is considerable discussion of evidence of leaching a chemicals from plastics that mimic natural hormones, such as estrogen. Bisphenol-A, a common ingredient of polycarbonate, and nonylphenols, used in polystyrenes and PVC, are identified as such chemicals. It's a pretty sobering book. Some call it as significant at Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring." I've also been following this issue through the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives."
Alex Wilson Environmental Building News
Note: there is a separate discussion thread on environmental estrogens and "Our Stolen Future".
Bion Howard with some references on hormones
From: Bion Howard
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 1996 11:55 AM
Hormone Mimicking Chemicals ??? Terrestrial UFO's
Check work done at Florida Universities on penile atrophy in alligators, discovered in the Everglades, being linked to hormone mimicking organic chemicals. This is of course a charming prospect related to our continual low level exposures to organic's. Just take a look at sperm counts and birth defect stats since the late 1940's and even a 6th grader could see a disturbing trend.
What to do? This one may be another "tragedy of the commons," since such low levels and lack of peer-reviewed proven cause and effect means little likelihood of tighter regulation. BUT, if we could get access to secret research and development files of major chemical and petro giants, much like the tobacco whistle- blowers, then new facts about what industry knows about the effects of such substances could come out.
Might want to check out some of the chemical sensitivity work of William J. Rea, MD who is about to publish a new book on diagnosing sensitivities. Its to include reports based on data from 20,000 !!! patients. _Chemical Sensitivity_ Vol. 4 "Tools for Diagnosis and Treatment" Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL 1-800-272-7737 ETA -- Mid December 1996
Mr. Bion D. Howard, Principal Building Environmental Science & Technology P. O. Box 1007 Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20773 USA V:(301)627-2780 FAX:(301)627-4735
Michael Totten on some web sites
From: Michael Totten
Sent: Monday, December 02, 1996 6:35 PM
I'm just about through Our Stolen Future, and it is definitely well worth the time to read. Quite compelling information that sent me off looking for more information on the topic of endocrine disruptors.
There's also a great web site that Alton Jones Foundation is funding about the topic, called Environmental Concepts Made Easy: Environmental Concepts Made Easy is maintained by the Center for Bioenvironmental Research (CBR) of Tulane and Xavier Universities, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, with assistance from the Office of Medical Informatics of the Tulane University School of Medicine. The site is partially supported by grants from the W. Alton Jones Foundation and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ecme/
Michael Totten
Pat Ballentine with a web site
From: Ballentine
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 1996 11:29 AM
Responding to the request from Norbert Senf for information about environmental estrogens-- Try the web site of Tulane University's Center for Bioenvironmental Research, coordinated by their Environmental Endocrinology Lab. (http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ecme/EEHome/default.html)
Pat Ballentine -- MZê
Terry Brennan with some more references
From: TBren46501@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 1996 3:40 PM
Coexposure to multiple contaminants which magnify the effects of the separate constituents are the things I am am most nervous about in the chemical arena these days. In addition to "Our Stolen Future", I ransacked my files and found these references. Some of them are pretty dry.
"Synergistic Activation of Estrogen Receptor with Combinations of Environmental Chemicals", Steven Arnold et al., Science Vol. 272 (6/7/96)
"Developmental Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Wildlife and Humans", Theo Colburn et al. Environmental Health Perspectives vol. 101, No. 5 (10/93)
"Neurotoxicity Resulting from Coexposure to Pyridostigmine Bromide, DEET and Permethrin: Implications of Gulf War Chemical Exposures", M. B. Abou-Donia et al, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Vol. 48
"Dangers of Chemical Combinations", Peter Montague, Rachel's Environment and Health Weekly, 6/13/96
-Terry-
Marc Rosebaum on other poly encounters
From: Marc J. Rosenbaum
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 1996 6:29 PM
What about Big Macs and Thick Shakes?
Top of file
Dave Warren on fallout from scary science
From: Dave Warren
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 1996 8:18 AM
Michael --
Thanks for the info on the web site by Dr Guillette and others. Talk about a topic that's not an easy read....
An interesting note is the "angry press" that Dr Colborn got on her book when it first came out last spring. It seemed that she had to spend most of her time defending it as true science rather than explaining the concepts. Fortunately, she made a good defense.
Was it the same "angry press" that took on the EPA with their new regulations last week? I heard more about the cliche we-they issues (business vs regulators, etc) on these proposed regs than the science and the alternative routes we have of dealing with the environmental issues.
Likewise in the construction world, the press seems to report more on green gizmos than on green science. Green lifeSTYLES rather than ------ green life!
If true, how do we change such reporting in the popular press?
Dave Warren Rochester, MI
Alex Wilson -EBN's review of "Our Stolen Future"
From: Alex Wilson
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 1996 12:00 PM
Also, we reviewed Our Stolen Future in the last issue of Environmental Building News (Nov-Dec 96). It is quite an impressive book! Contact us to get hold of a copy of the review.
Alex Wilson, EBN