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| Photo credit: galleryhip.com |
The endocrine system keeps our bodies in balance,
maintaining homeostasis and guiding proper growth and development.
A growing body of evidence suggests that numerous chemicals, both natural and man-made, may interfere with the endocrine system and produce adverse effects in laboratory animals, wildlife, and humans. Scientists often refer to these chemicals as “endocrine disruptors.” Endocrine disruption is an important public health concern that is being addressed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). These chemicals are found in many of the everyday products we use, including some plastic bottles and containers, detergents, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides. Although limited scientific information is available on the potential adverse human health effects, concern arises because endocrine disrupting chemicals present in the environment at very low levels have been shown to have adverse effects in wildlife species as well as in laboratory animals. The difficulty of assessing public health effects is increased by the fact that people are typically exposed to multiple endocrine disruptors simultaneously.
A growing body of evidence suggests that numerous chemicals, both natural and man-made, may interfere with the endocrine system and produce adverse effects in laboratory animals, wildlife, and humans. Scientists often refer to these chemicals as “endocrine disruptors.” Endocrine disruption is an important public health concern that is being addressed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). These chemicals are found in many of the everyday products we use, including some plastic bottles and containers, detergents, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides. Although limited scientific information is available on the potential adverse human health effects, concern arises because endocrine disrupting chemicals present in the environment at very low levels have been shown to have adverse effects in wildlife species as well as in laboratory animals. The difficulty of assessing public health effects is increased by the fact that people are typically exposed to multiple endocrine disruptors simultaneously.
Some research suggests that these substances are
also adversely affecting human health in similar ways, resulting in reduced
fertility and increased incidences or progression of some diseases, including
obesity, diabetes, endometriosis, and some cancers. People may be exposed to endocrine
disruptors through the food and beverages they consume, medicine they take,
pesticides they apply, and cosmetics they use.
Some environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals,
such as the pesticide DDT, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used in
electrical equipment, are highly persistent and slow to degrade in the
environment making them potentially hazardous over an extended period of time.
NIEHS has been a pioneer in conducting research on
the health effects of endocrine disruptors for more than three decades,
starting with the endocrine-disrupting effects of the pharmaceutical,
diethylstilbestrol (DES).
From the 1940s–1970s, DES was used to treat women with high-risk pregnancies, with the mistaken belief that it prevented miscarriage. In 1972, prenatal exposure to DES was linked to the development of a rare form of vaginal cancer in daughters whose mother received DES, and with numerous non-cancerous changes in both sons and daughters.
From the 1940s–1970s, DES was used to treat women with high-risk pregnancies, with the mistaken belief that it prevented miscarriage. In 1972, prenatal exposure to DES was linked to the development of a rare form of vaginal cancer in daughters whose mother received DES, and with numerous non-cancerous changes in both sons and daughters.
HOW DO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS WORK?
Endocrine disruptors can:
• Mimic or partly mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens (the female sex hormone), androgens (the male sex hormone), and thyroid hormones, potentially producing overstimulation.
• Bind to a receptor within a cell and block the endogenous hormone from binding. The normal signal then fails to occur and the body fails to respond properly. Examples of chemicals that block or antagonize hormones are anti-estrogens and anti-androgens.
• Interfere or block the way natural hormones or their receptors are made or controlled, for example, by altering their metabolism in the liver.
Endocrine disruptors can:
• Mimic or partly mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens (the female sex hormone), androgens (the male sex hormone), and thyroid hormones, potentially producing overstimulation.
• Bind to a receptor within a cell and block the endogenous hormone from binding. The normal signal then fails to occur and the body fails to respond properly. Examples of chemicals that block or antagonize hormones are anti-estrogens and anti-androgens.
• Interfere or block the way natural hormones or their receptors are made or controlled, for example, by altering their metabolism in the liver.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS AS EXAMPLES OF
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
Phytoestrogens
Diethylstylbestrol (DES)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
Phytoestrogens
Diethylstylbestrol (DES)
WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY RISK OF
EXPOSURE?
Buy organic food whenever possible
Avoid using pesticides in your home or yard, use bait or traps instead.
Avoid fatty foods such as cheese and meat whenever possible.
Avoid heating food in plastic containers in microwaves.
Support efforts to get strong government regulation of and increased research on endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Buy organic food whenever possible
Avoid using pesticides in your home or yard, use bait or traps instead.
Avoid fatty foods such as cheese and meat whenever possible.
Avoid heating food in plastic containers in microwaves.
Support efforts to get strong government regulation of and increased research on endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Endocrine disruptors are things we come in contact
with in our daily activities. For example, in our diet, in the air we breathe,
water we drink, and also the cosmetics we use. It will be of great advantage if
we take cognizance of these disruptors, how they affect humans, and we should
try to avoid them when possible.
And that’s as all around anatomy as it gets. Thanks for
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