Hormone Disruptors

envelope collage, stitch, marker and digital
hole in heart

Theo Colburn, " principal investigator, analyst, and constructor of the "endocrine disruption hypothesis" and author of Our Stolen Future (1996)

"For over half a century....humans have been engaged in chemical warfare against themselves. "We have dusted the globe with man-made chemicals that can undermine the development of the brain and behavior, and the endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems, vital systems that assure perpetuity.. ...Colburn says, "You cannot escape from exposure in your homes, work places,the outdoors or in your meeting room."

Restricting the use of of a few of the most deadly pesticides.-those made from chlorinated hydrocarbons (like DDT) -and phasing out the production of PCBs came too late. The world has already become permeated with these and other long lasting synthetic chemicals. these residual poisons in all our bodies are leftovers from hazardous synthetic chemicals that have been discharged into the environment since the 1940s. ..

...everyone is carrying at least 500 measurable chemicals in their bodies that weren't there prior to the 1920s. ( p 85-86)

Persistent organic pollutants -POPs -" are circulating throughout the world on ocean and atmospheric currents. "

The endocrine disruptors "wreak havoc a on many different biological processes..." Safer States

The good news is that human genes have not been damaged, -just turned on or off at the wrong moments. If exposure to POPs "can be eliminated, future generations can develop normally again."

Colburn says "what distresses her most about how humans interact with the planet are greed and short thinking. ..Colburn notes that some corporate leaders are beginning to realize that the survival of their companies depends on their changing their policies, products and processes. In a sense perhaps, greed and concern for their bottom lines might be turned to advantage..." (p 86) Women Pioneers for the Environment, Mary Joy Breton (1998)

"We" did not promote these chemicals, the industry did.

"...develop normally," POPs are only a % of the chemical onslaught.

"...greed and concern for their bottom lines might be turned to advantage." Creating more sustainable, greener processes, products etc do not offset the fact that huge corporations wield too much power over governments and global policy makers. Creative diversity is stilted when profit is the most valued result.