What if the perceived increase in numbers of androgenous and trans people has a chemical basis: chemicals from plastics interfering with the endocrine system.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9885170/

[–] ondoyant 13 points 1 year ago

that's far from what the study says. there is no research on the effects of plastic chemicals in human beings cited in the study, the vast majority of the data is in rats and mice. saying that its responsible for trans people requires some very large leaps of logic that aren't supported by the data or the conclusion of the study.

we have a great deal of anthropological evidence that other cultures conceive of sex and gender in wildly differing ways, both through history and in the modern era. gender identity is a complex social and cultural phenomenon, not some essential trait of the human body with a basis in endocrine function. maybe i'm just sensitive to this shit, but i can't see somebody making a claim like this without just fundamentally misunderstanding what being trans is.

[–] Tankton@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago

Holy shit, how is this not a super high priority right now? Not because of trans people but the conclusion that microplastics interfere with hormones seems super fucked up

[–] nevial@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This has "they turn the freaking frogs gay" energy

[–] maxcorbetti@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago

Funny enough, I think that all started with a study about hormone mimicking plastics.

[–] interolivary 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

What if the perceived increase in numbers of androgenous and trans people has a chemical basis

I'd be willing to wager it's mostly due to it being safer to be "out" than it was just a few decades ago. Speaking as a 40-odd trans person, growing up in the 80's meant a much higher chance of getting your ass kicked or worse by your "peers" if you stepped out of line when it came to gender expression. I've always been what I am now, it's just that it's been safe to actually do it "out loud", at least for the past decade or so – that seems to be changing now that the right is radicalizing rapidly.

[–] erogenouswarzone@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I was reading What to expect before you're expecting and it says to stay away from any food that comes in any kind of plastic, esp if the plastic container needs to be heated/re-heated.

It says when it gets into your blood stream your body thinks it's estrogen.

The most fucked up part is the EPA says the risk is very low. Probably because plastics are literally everywhere, and banning them at this point would cause an economic catastrophe. Which it def would.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331

This is an article about BPAs, but they are just the tip of the iceberg of the phtalates - chemicals used to make plastic more durable.