corbomite
02-01-2007, 02:14 AM
Natural oils gave young boys breasts
22:00 31 January 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Andy Coghlan
Three young boys grew breast tissue after exposure to lotions and shampoos containing lavender or tea tree oil, researchers say.
It is not uncommon for boys to develop breast tissue during puberty or just after, but the boys affected by the plant oils were aged four, seven and 10.
The natural oils may be “gender-bending” chemicals mimicking effects of the female hormone, oestrogen, the findings suggest. The boys were otherwise normal, and lost the breast tissue within months of discontinuing use of the products.
Researchers who identified the oils as the cause of the abnormalities in the three pre-pubertal boys have warned parents and doctors to beware of the effects of any toiletry products containing the oils.
“If consumers are concerned about exposure to lavender or tea tree oil, they should talk to their physicians,” says Derek Henley of the US National Institute of Health Sciences labs in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US. “Now that physicians are aware of the problem, they can document cases,” adds Henley, whose team identified the oils as the probable cause in three affected boys.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11075-natural-oils-gave-young-boys-breasts.html
22:00 31 January 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Andy Coghlan
Three young boys grew breast tissue after exposure to lotions and shampoos containing lavender or tea tree oil, researchers say.
It is not uncommon for boys to develop breast tissue during puberty or just after, but the boys affected by the plant oils were aged four, seven and 10.
The natural oils may be “gender-bending” chemicals mimicking effects of the female hormone, oestrogen, the findings suggest. The boys were otherwise normal, and lost the breast tissue within months of discontinuing use of the products.
Researchers who identified the oils as the cause of the abnormalities in the three pre-pubertal boys have warned parents and doctors to beware of the effects of any toiletry products containing the oils.
“If consumers are concerned about exposure to lavender or tea tree oil, they should talk to their physicians,” says Derek Henley of the US National Institute of Health Sciences labs in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US. “Now that physicians are aware of the problem, they can document cases,” adds Henley, whose team identified the oils as the probable cause in three affected boys.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11075-natural-oils-gave-young-boys-breasts.html