Human Health Hazard

I was so totally amazed by this, that I am posting it, even though it is not my usual topic.
Is it any wonder why younger and younger new marrieds have to seek medical intervention to have a family?

TELEGRAPH– March 28, 2007
EATING BEEF COULD THREATEN SONS' FERTILITY
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor

DON'T MESS WITH HORMONES, EXPERT WARNS

Thesonsof women who regularly ate beef during pregnancy are more likely tohave lowsperm counts, according to a report published today.

CopenhagenUniversityresearchers concluded that sperm counts were falling in the Westmore thana decade ago and exposure to pesticides and industrial chemicalshave longbeen under suspicion, with principle suspects including “gender-bender” chemicalsthat act like the human sex hormones.

Today, anAmerican team concludesthat women who ate a lot of beef while pregnant hadsons who were more likelyto suffer from poor sperm quality and suggest thatthe growth promoters usedin cattle may be responsible.

The studyof men living in the USA andborn between 1949 and 1983 revealed that thosewhose mothers ate more thanseven beef meals a week had a sperm concentrationthat was more than 24 percent lower than in men whose mothers ate less beef.

Inaddition, threetimes more sons of high beef consumers had a sperm concentrationthat wouldbe classified as sub-fertile by World Health Organization standards,in comparisonto men whose mothers ate less beef.

One British expertsaid that thefindings are “alarming.” Another added: “Don’t mess with growthpromotersis the obvious take home message.”

The remainder of the article can be viewed here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/03/28/nbeef28.xml