Saturday, May 05, 2007

Herbicides, Pesticides and XX Chromosomes


Dictated by Betty Krawczyk from Alouette Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge, BC.

According to Province newspaper, April 26th, there is a gender ratio crisis on the Aamjiwnaang Reserve in Sarnia. Situated right across from a chemical plant (Sarnia is mostly chemical plants) the natives of the reserve are wondering if the chemicals being spewed out by this plant have anthying to do with the fact that there are two girls being born to 1 boy on the reserve.
Researchers , the ones concerned wth such things as gender ratio in species, have been worried for some time about the reproduction of the human species.
Historically there are 104 males born to every 100 females. Nature compensates for the high death rates for males in infancy and childhood by giving boys a numerical advantage at conception. However, this advantage is being altered by chemical pollutants.
It is coming to light that the chemical soup we all live in (herbicides, pesticides, plastics, industrial effluent) contain compounds that mimic estrogen. Human males already have all the estrogen they need. More is not better.
These compounds seem to be responsible not only for the 50% drop in sperm count in the last 50 years, but is also affecting chromosomes in the sperm. Researchers tell us that, in general, there seem to be more XX chromosomes in sperm than before, which results in more girls.
The moral of the story? More chemicals means more girls are born. But if pollution is curbed, will the ratio return to normal? Not according to some researchers. They fear these chemicals stay in the human body and are passed on to the next generation. Will our coming generations be composed predominantly of women? And what would that mean to the evolution of the human race? These questions boggle my mind. But this morning I am off to the prison libray, where I have assumed a job of prison librarian.
More later.

contact information:
Betty Krawczyk
Alouette Correctional Centre for Women
P.O. Box 1000,
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3K4

Books: http://www.booksofbettyk.com/

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