Herbicide Zaps Weeds and Fertility

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The herbicide atrazine, which is already a possible cause of sexual abnormalities in frogs and fish, has now been found to affect humans as well.

Atrazine is the most common weed killer used in the United States. It's used on corn and sorghum fields as well as suburban lawns and gardens.

Researchers at the University of California studied placental cells in culture. Atrazine increased the activity of a gene associated with abnormal birth weight. It also targets another gene in the uterus of women with unexplained infertility.

In the placental cell studies, a 24-hour exposure to atrazine activated a cluster of genes involved in hormone signaling and steroid synthesis. Holly Ingraham, Ph.D., senior author of the survey and UCSF Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, says she believes the significant changes caused by the widely used chemical means scientists have to take a closer look at its effect on human health.

"Up to now, much of the focus has been on breast cancer," Dr. Ingraham was quoted as saying. "But since proper development of the endocrine system is important for normal reproduction, stress responses and metabolism, early exposure to this chemical in a fetus or infant might alter normal physiology later in life."

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