Chlorpyrifos and Birth Defects

Jeanette D. Sherman, Arch Env Health 1996:51;5-8

In the tradition of Our Stolen Future, Jeanette Sherman, M.D. tries to link, by anecdote no less, the pesticide chlorpyrifos with birth defects in four children. Sherman reports that the mothers of these children were "exposed" to chlorpyrifos at home. One mother was also "exposed" at work. BUT:

Sherman's Law: Use Equals Exposure?The mothers self-reported that chlorpyrifos-containing pesticide products were used in their homes during their pregnancies. (NOTE: I'm somewhat suspicious of such self-reported data, particularly in the case of anecdotal data collected by an (overly ambitious?) M.D. publishing under the auspices of a university Sociology Department!) Even accepting the self-reporting at face value (gulp!), since when does use of a pesticide equate to exposure to the pesticide?. Oh yeah,... I forgot. This is the Junk Science Home Page.

Biological Plausibility by Opinion!Sherman submitted her findings to one L. Guillette who "opined" that the chlorpyrifos "may interfere with the testosterone responsive calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) that induces inguinosacral migrations either by disrupting CGRP synthesis or by blocking the action of testosterone."

First, "opined"?! Judges opine. Newspaper columnists opine. But scientists?! Don't scientists theorize or hypothesize? Theories and hypotheses can be tested. How do you test an opinion?

Second, at best and according to the references, Guillette's "opinion" is based on wildlife observation, specifically observation of alligators. Excuse me,...but how relevant is her "opinion" if it's based on alligators? They're not even mammals!

Sherman's March.In the waning days of the American Civil War, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman marched through Georgia on his way to the Atlantic coast, burning everything in his path, starting with the city of Atlanta. In 1996, Jeanette Sherman marches to the Junk Science Hall of Shame, burning everything in her path, including science, logic, and common sense.

Sherman states that birth defects of the central nervous system occur at a rate of about 2 to 4 per 1,000 live births. Then, she goes on to state that "the fact that such a pattern of defects existed in four children--even in self-selected reports-- suggests a common cause." What is she talking about?! How does any of this suggest a common cause, much less what that common cause is? General Sherman, and even Bobby Sherman (teen idol of the 60's), could have reached a more sensible conclusion than Jeanette, I think.

BE AWARE AND BE AFRAID. Look for more and more of this type junk as the rush is on to cash in on endocrine disrupter research while it's hot.

Material presented on this home page constitutes opinion of the author.

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