Years ago, when we reported that 70% of beauty products contained chemicals linked to birth defects of the penis, I was asked a funny question: If this chemical is harmful to boys, why do we have to worry if it’s in products used by women? I thought, seriously? Unfortunately, the person was serious, and so were the dozens of others who asked the same question. So I learned that you have to actually answer this question: Um, because boys come from the bodies of women.

Yes, if we want to protect people of all sexes — and, it turns out, species of all kinds — from gender-bending chemicals, we need to keep these chemicals away from females who are, might be, or might someday want to become pregnant. In other words, we have to keep these chemicals out of commerce.

To get an idea of the scope of the problem, see Nicholas Kristof’s piece in the NYT: It’s Time to Learn from Frogs and this CBC documentary: The Disappearing Male.

Sperm counts are plummeting, and scientists note a remarkable decline in fertility rates in industrialized countries.

• Payback buy

But don’t worry, says the beauty industry, it’s just “a little bit” of estrogenic parabens and gender-bending phthalates in the shampoo, lotion, deodorant, perfume and baby wipes. Help give the beauty industry a makeover!

Stacy Malkan, June 30