We originally brought this story to you some time ago. Catholic News Service has picked it up now, with more information.

In a talk with the daunting title of “Endocrine Disruptions: Chemical Contraceptives in Sewage Effluents,” LeChevallier explained that like secondhand smoke, “secondhand estrogens are being released into the environment,” to devastating effect on fish, panthers, alligators and other wildlife.

He said the media “did a little bit of a disservice” to the American public when they reported earlier this year that the levels of contaminants found in drinking water could seriously harm humans.

For example, “you would have to drink 100 million gallons to get the dose found in one Tylenol,” he said.

But “the synthetic estrogen used in birth control pills can wreak havoc on the sex lives of fish,” LeChevallier said, citing reduced penis size in male fish, masculinized female fish and other sex-related changes.

Because the synthetic estrogen is not absorbed well into the body, much of the drug is released into the environment through women’s urine, he said. In addition, used contraceptive rings and patches are having a further polluting effect, he said.

Barillas’ presentation focused on the “distinctly Catholic approach to environmental concerns,” which she said is neither “a new message for us” nor “an issue that is out there just for people who live close to the woods.”

Of special concern for Catholics is the fact that “the poor and powerless are most likely to bear the burden of our environmental carelessness,” she said.

“The poor, the elderly and persons with disabilities often are exposed to multiple contaminants,” Barillas said, adding that children especially are at risk because they suffer “greater exposure pound for pound” and have a “diminished ability to detoxify and excrete many chemical toxins.”

Full article

As I recall, one article I read on this from the MSM quoted an enviro-nut as saying something like “well, we can’t get rid of every environmental contaminant.” They try to get rid of all the others, but for some reason, this one gets a pass (oh yeah, that whole contraceptive culture is the reason this one gets a pass…)