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Exposure to phthalate compromises brain function in adult vertebrates

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91 points PaulHoule | 7 comments | 06 Nov 24 21:00 UTC | HN request time: 0.849s | source | bottom
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zug_zug ◴[06 Nov 24 22:21 UTC] No.42070418[source]▶
Obviously this is baseless speculation, but I sure do wonder if various psychological conditions that are so diverse and hard to pin down (i.e. 3 out of these 9 symptoms around attention, social behavior, or impulse control) are ultimately just going to be proven to be purely biological. And since genetics can only explain less than half of it, it sure seems that something messing with chemical signaling would be a reasonable explanation for the rest.
replies(2): >>42071110 #>>42071975 #
1. sva_ ◴[07 Nov 24 00:51 UTC] No.42071975[source]▶
I've been speculating on industrial pollutants that act as endocrine disruptors for years now, and every so often some evidence emerges. People understandably don't like such mundane explanations when they've built large parts of their identity around the issues it may have caused them though.
replies(2): >>42072177 #>>42072225 #
2. jackyinger ◴[07 Nov 24 01:14 UTC] No.42072177[source]▶
They should look on the bright side: eliminating plastic exposure could be a great wellspring of identity. I mean to really avoid them you’d have to make all your food from raw unprocessed ingredients, and then there’s clothing, all the objects you interact with throughout the day, etc.

Edit: expanding a bit more on the idea. DIYing all the stuff you’d need to avoid plastics is a much bigger identity statement than neurodivergent. Tho saying I’ve been subtly poisoned is far less sexy than saying I’m neurodivergent.

replies(1): >>42072933 #
3. sapphicsnail ◴[07 Nov 24 01:21 UTC] No.42072225[source]▶
You're idea is hardly novel. I've had plenty of people tell me this or that chemical caused me to be trans. I've also spent plenty of time researching possible biological causes of transness. I'm personally open to the idea that maybe there's a biological cause but I haven't found a convincing explanation yet.

The problem is that when I have conversations with people about soy turning me trans or social media turning me trans they are often trying to use that as a way to deny me any agency over my own life.

replies(2): >>42072340 #>>42072781 #
4. stavros ◴[07 Nov 24 01:39 UTC] No.42072340[source]▶
> I've had plenty of people tell me this or that chemical caused me to be trans.

Isn't this pretty obviously true? Some chemical in the womb caused every one of us to be or feel the gender they do.

replies(1): >>42073000 #
5. gatane ◴[07 Nov 24 02:41 UTC] No.42072781[source]▶
Trans people have been around ages, same as gays and all that. Yet no gay gene discovered.

We know that a living being is just not only DNA, but also its environment; now on top of that add all the big complexity of human social behaviour and gender into it. I doubt they will find a "cause" to trans-ness.

6. clolege ◴[07 Nov 24 03:05 UTC] No.42072933[source]▶
Removing plastics from my apartment has made it come to life

The biggest change was giving all of my plants real planters. They are so much happier now :)

7. Enginerrrd ◴[07 Nov 24 03:17 UTC] No.42073000{3}[source]▶
It's not so trivial as you're making it out it be. But at the same time I agree that if there's a chemical influence, I would not be surprised if it's occuring in utero.