The alarming number or hermaphrodite frogs found in states like Connecticut and California has scientists searching for an explanation.  Frogs which lived in suburban areas were also found to become more susceptible to reproductive abnormalities than those that live in rural areas.

Scientists at UC Berkley have discovered a link between sex changed frogs and the herbicide Atrazine.  Atrazine is one of the most commonly used pesticide to kill weeds in crops like corn and soybeans.  In a laboratory experiment, frogs exposed to as little as .1 parts per billion, or thirty times the current allowed limit for the herbicide, still developed eggs in their testes.  The study strongly suggests a strong co-relation between the demasculinization of the species and the decline in frog population throughout the US.  Other studies also show that Atrazine has weakened the immune system of Tiger salamanders, an amphibian common in the US.

There have been studies conducted to understand the effects of Atrazine on human beings.  Couples who live near farms where Atrazine is used have higher rates of pre-term deliveries.  Children born near contaminated areas have low birth weight.   But because those primarily exposed to the chemicals were men, it is hard to pinpoint whether Atrazine is the only culprit since there are also other herbicides used in farming.  And although there is little information on how Atrazine affects humans it is never too late to be on the safe side.

farmcommunities.com