Common weedkiller turns male frogs into females

[cory777]

Source: Reuters

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Reuters) - Atrazine, one of the most commonly used and controversial weedkillers, can turn male frogs into females, researchers reported on Monday.

The experiment is the first to show such complete effects of atrazine, which had been known to disrupt hormones and which is one of the chief suspects in the decline of amphibians such as frogs around the world.

"Atrazine-exposed males were both demasculinized (chemically castrated) and completely feminized as adults," Tyrone Hayes of the University of California Berkeley and colleagues wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The chemical had been shown to disrupt development and make frogs develop both male and female features -- termed hermaphroditism. This study of 40 male frogs shows the process can go even further, Hayes said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0111969720100302

[BrklynLiberal]

1. geez................anyone know what it does to humans?

[Liberal Veteran]

2. In a related story, Ann Coulter Was Arrested for Shoplifting Weedkiller

[Bitwit1234]

7. Best post I have seen in a long long while.

wouldst a lot of republicans who are ranting about gay rights get sprayed down.

[FreakinDJ]

9. I see a DUzy

[RZM]

3. Does it make them look like Ellen Barkin too? (n/t)

[ORDagnabbit]

4. This is why you want to limit the power of corporations and govern the commons

[stevedeshazer]

5. Does it work on Republicans?

That alone would solve most of our problems.

[supernova]

6. Atrazine brand names

I found a web site that lists brand names atrazine is sold under

http://www.atrazinefacts.com/product-list-31.asp

[malakai2]

10. If you live in the corn belt (cotton belt, CAFO belt, etc.)

and get your drinking water from a well, consider having the well tested for pesticides, just for giggles. And remember, endocrine disruptors work their magic on fish and amphibians at doses well below the traditional lowest observed effects level and LD50/LC50 figures on which EPA bases their analyses of what is safe or unsafe.

[Golden Raisin]

8. Don't ask. Don't tell.

[rcrush]

11. Awesome! And they spray it on corn to?!

Sweet!