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In recent years, it has become clear that environmental pollution has caused the feminization of many male animals in the wild. For example: Certain fish and frogs that were exposed to industrial chemicals in lakes and rivers have developed intersexual conditions and thus an inability to reproduce. The result is a continuing dramatic decline in their populations. The chemicals involved here are known as
endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). As the name indicates, they disrupt the workings of endocrine glands like ovaries and testicles, i.e. they interfere with essential hormonal processes inside the body. Thus, they can lead to various physical problems, including the atypical development of sex organs. Describing all of these chemicals lies outside the scope of this course. Neither is it possible here to list their many effects. At any rate, their actual and potential role in human intersexuality is still unclear and continues to be investigated. However, there is no doubt about certain hormonal medications that were once prescribed for pregnant women:
Progestin, widely used in contraception, was, in the 50’s and 60’s, administered to prevent miscarriages. While it was not effective for that purpose, it had a virilizing effect on female fetuses. At birth, their sex organs resembled, in various degrees, those of males.
DES (diethylstilbestrol) a synthetic form of estrogen, was, from the 1940s to the early 1970s, also given in the belief that it would prevent miscarriages. Again, it did not work as intended but had very severe unforeseen effects. Among these were intersexual conditions in newborn boys and increased health risks for girls and for the mothers who took the drug.
All of these observations once more illustrate that intersexuality is indeed a matter of degree with a great variety of causes. Therefore, since each case is different, all intersexes must be - and deserve to be - seen and treated as individuals. They are persons in their own right and fully human in every respect. While they are in a statistical minority, they are entitled to all privileges that the majority takes for granted.
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(Left) Symbol used by the European Union: Dangerous for the Environment
The symbol, which shows a dead tree and a dead fish, must be displayed on the packages of all chemicals that could harm the natural environment.
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(Right) Logo of the US Food and Drug Administration
In the USA, the FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, biological products, medical devices, foods, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
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