A new study published has linked atrazine (an herbicide) to hormonal regularities in women.
"Women who drink water contaminated with low levels of the weed-killer atrazine may be more likely to have low estrogen levels, according to a new study."
"The newest research, which compared women in Illinois to women in Vermont, adds to the growing scientific evidence linking atrazine to altered hormones."
The company that makes atrazine disputes the results, saying that there are too many other factors that could contribute to the problem.
As you comment think about the study. How large was their sample size? Could that have an effect? Are there other studies confirming this data? Are there other factors that could account for these differences? As we move on in content you might also want to relate the use of atrazine to the use of glyphosate (Round-up) and think about what might happen if more and more plants become resistant to Round up.
I believe since we live in illios and we get our water from the filthy vermillion river and drink it, that round up is one of our lesser worries. However, round up is a herbicide and is made to kill so it does not surprise me that it kills off estrogen levels. We are also located in the corn belt strip so farming and herbicides are more abundant in illinois over Vermont.
ReplyDeleteFrom reading the article, it makes sense that women in Illinois suffer from irregular menstal cycles because the water we drink is much different than in Vermont. Illinois has so much flat land for farming and so atrazine is prevelent in our water. I wonder if there are any other body irregularies between people in Illinois compared to Vermont. I think that this hypothesis is supported by the results scientists obtained from testing atrazine on animals, which resulted in fertility issues. Another factor that shows this link to be true is that women who said they drank more tap water also said they had more irregular periods. I wonder if farmers could find a safer herbicide to use that would not lower estrogen levels.
ReplyDeleteIf 75% of all cornfields in America are treated with atrazine, then the chances of just the midwest contracting issues with hormones is probably less likely. I also wonder if, because the crops are centered from here in the midwest, does that mean if we ship corns to other states, they will get the effect of less estrogen and hormonal imbalances? It would probably affect them in lower concetrations but I think they would get it regardless. It also doesn't surprise me that the water here is giving us detrimental effects. It's disgusting. I know the water doesn't come directly from OUR river, but our river has shopping carts in it. This is the water that feeds into other water, which feeds into our mouths. Hormonal imbalances is the least of my worries at this point.
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