Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

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Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

 

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Environmental estrogens. Endocrine-disrupters. Endocrine-modulators.

Ecoestrogens. Environmental hormones. Xenoestrogens. Hormone-related toxicants.

Endocrine-active compounds. Phytoestrogens.

 

These terms describe endocrine disrupters, the synthetic chemicals and natural

plant compounds that may affect the endocrine system (the communication system

of glands, hormones and cellular receptors that control the body's internal

functions). Many of these substances have been associated with developmental,

reproductive and other health problems in wildlife and laboratory animals. Some

experts suggest these compounds may affect humans in similar ways.

 

Endocrine disrupters alter hormonal functions by several means.

 

Substances can:

mimic or partly mimic the sex steroid hormones estrogens and androgens (the male

sex hormone) by binding to hormone receptors or influencing cell signaling

pathways. Those that act like estrogen are called environmental estrogens.

block, prevent and alter hormonal binding to hormone receptors or influencing

cell signaling pathways. Chemicals that block or antagonize hormones are labeled

anti-estrogens or anti-androgens.

alter production and breakdown of natural hormones.

modify the making and function of hormone receptors.

 

Environmental estrogens are the most studied of all the endocrine disrupters.

Natural compounds capable of producing estrogenic responses, such as the

phytoestrogens, occur in a variety of plants and fungi. Many synthetic chemicals

that also mimic estrogen are commercially manufactured for a specific purpose or

produced as a byproduct.

 

Exposure to these substances occurs throughout our lives from food, air, water,

soil, household products and probably through breast milk and during development

in our mother's womb. The human health risks that may be associated with these

low-level yet constant exposures are still largely unknown and highly

controversial.

 

http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/edc.html

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mrsjoguest

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mrsjoguest

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Joined: 09 Sep 2003

Posts: 2390

Location: Michigan

Post subject: No Safe Dose

 

 

Why does Long Island, N.Y. have one of the nation's highest breast cancer rates?

A report on the study which helped trigger women's activism and why answers to

what's causing the higher rates must await further studies on estrogenic

chemicals and breast cancer.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/nature/disrupt/

 

An overview of the growing concerns and continuing debate about man-made

chemicals, their effects on wildlife and the wildlife-human connection.

And below, two different views on the state of science concerning the link

between endocrine-mimicking chemicals and human cancers and reproductive

problems:

 

 

 

 

" The jury is still out. " says Stephen H. Safe and Kavita Ramamoorthy,

toxicologists at Texas A & M University in their article titled " Disruptive

Behavior: Endocrine Disruptors, Sperm Counts and Breast Cancer "

 

 

 

New studies involving extremely low doses of estrogen-mimicking chemicals

indicate there's " no safe dose, " reports Frederick vom Saal, endocrinologist at

the U. of Missouri at Columbia in his article, " Risk Assessment of

Endocrine-Mimicking Hormones Using Traditional Experimental Models at High Doses

Is Based on Erroneous Assumptions. "

 

 

The 'Precautionary Approach' has become a driving force behind some new

legislative mandates for reducing risks from environmental contaminants. It's

also fostering new alliances in the scientific community.

 

 

A summary of the legacy and continuing controversy surrounding Rachel Carson's

landmark 1962 book.

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JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The complete " Whole Body " Health line consists of the " AIM GARDEN TRIO "

Ask About Health Professional Support Series: AIM Barleygreen

 

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html

 

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