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I just have to downvote this mentality.... For example men's spermcounts have been going down steadily and predictably for over 30 years, and are now HALF what

I just have to downvote this mentality.... For example men's spermcounts have been going down steadily and predictably for over 30 years, and are now HALF what they were 30 years ago. Scientists have done thousands of studies and haven't identified a root cause. (I bring this up because many plastics are made flexible with a xenoestrogen named BPA) We can't say "Plastics must be fine," we have no control group to compare against. For all you know the increases in allergies, nearsightedness, autoimmune disorders, or reduced sperm count are related. --- Remember when leaded gasoline reduced a whole generation's IQ by a few points and caused a crimewave? Sometimes the negative effects of an enviromental choice take decades to figure out. It's past time to switch into a "cautious until proven safe" way of thinking when it comes to health and environment.

hammock 7y ago
BPA is not used to make plastics more flexible. It is commonly used in all sorts of places though. Phthalates are commonly used to make plastics more flexible. They are also estrogenic. Parabens, PCBs, and pesticides are all other common entrants into the body with estrogenic effects. ( Reduced sperm count and sperm quality)
- chrisco255 7y ago
  Do you have sources?
  - ddebernardy 7y ago
    You'll find some good links here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/22/toxic-chemicals-everyday-items-us-pesticides-bpa https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/22/toxic-chemic... The entire series is a good read, too: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/series/toxic-america https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/series/toxic-america
    - chrisco255 7y ago
      The Guardian is an online news site (with all the sensationalism that entails), not a serious scientific publication.
      - ddebernardy 7y ago
        The first article I linked to has links to the scientific sources.
userbinator 7y ago
Scientists have done thousands of studies and haven't identified a root cause. Then there likely isn't one, beyond maybe natural evolution itself. Remember when leaded gasoline reduced a whole generation's IQ by a few points and caused a crimewave? Sometimes the negative effects of an enviromental choice take decades to figure out. That was actually a very noticeable effect that plenty of studies showed evidence of, unlike this one. It's past time to switch into a "cautious until proven safe" way of thinking when it comes to health and environment. We'd still be living like cavemen if that were the case.
mrob 7y ago
Most likely candidate for increase in nearsightedness is decreased exposure to sunlight: https://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120 https://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120

hammock 7y ago

BPA is not used to make plastics more flexible. It is commonly used in all sorts of places though. Phthalates are commonly used to make plastics more flexible. They are also estrogenic. Parabens, PCBs, and pesticides are all other common entrants into the body with estrogenic effects. ( Reduced sperm count and sperm quality)

chrisco255 7y ago
Do you have sources?
- ddebernardy 7y ago
  You'll find some good links here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/22/toxic-chemicals-everyday-items-us-pesticides-bpa https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/22/toxic-chemic... The entire series is a good read, too: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/series/toxic-america https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/series/toxic-america
  - chrisco255 7y ago
    The Guardian is an online news site (with all the sensationalism that entails), not a serious scientific publication.
    - ddebernardy 7y ago
      The first article I linked to has links to the scientific sources.

userbinator 7y ago

Scientists have done thousands of studies and haven't identified a root cause. Then there likely isn't one, beyond maybe natural evolution itself. Remember when leaded gasoline reduced a whole generation's IQ by a few points and caused a crimewave? Sometimes the negative effects of an enviromental choice take decades to figure out. That was actually a very noticeable effect that plenty of studies showed evidence of, unlike this one. It's past time to switch into a "cautious until proven safe" way of thinking when it comes to health and environment. We'd still be living like cavemen if that were the case.

mrob 7y ago

Most likely candidate for increase in nearsightedness is decreased exposure to sunlight: https://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120 https://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120