Until now DDT could very well be considered the biggest environmental disaster to date. DDT, or dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, reportedly induced cancer in animals, induced antiandrogen effects, and impaired Natural Killer cells and T lymphocyte responses (Daniels et al. 2002). But now estrogen mimics confront the environment with a potentially greater catastrophe. .
Estrogen mimics, or xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens), are introduced into the body from the environment, mimic the actions of estrogen produced cells or alter the hormone's activity (Davis and Bradlow, 1995). Some of the foreign estrogens can reduce the effects of estrogens. These xenoestrogens are usually found in plant foods such as soy products, cauliflower and broccoli (Davis and Bradlow, 1995). .
There is significant evidence that the endocrine systems of fish, wildlife, and humans can be adversely affected by exposure to environmental contaminants, which contain estrogen mimics, such as pesticides, industrial chemicals, and wood-derived sterols. Therefore, Exposure to such chemicals can lead to developmental abnormalities, reproductive failure, altered immune functions, and many other abnormal endocrine functions (Buhler et al., 2000). Estrogen mimics along with other endocrine-disrupting materials may promote breast cancer. Studies have shown that xenoestrogens and these other endocrine-disrupting materials are also harming men by contributing to reproductive disorders, most notable being testicular cancer (Davis and Bradlow, 1995). .
In 1938, British scientist Edward Dodds introduced a chemical that somehow acted in the body like a natural estrogen. This "wonder drug", know as diethylstilbestrol or DES, was almost immediately given to women experiencing problems while giving birth in the belief that insufficient estrogen levels caused miscarriages and premature births. DES was thought to have many other uses as well such as, to treat acne, prostate cancer, and gonorrhea in children.
After extensive research, the US Food and Drug Administration has declined to ban the use of bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, in food packaging, despite scientific evidence of its ill effects highlighted by the Natural Resources Defense Council's 2008 petition. However, the FDA denounced the stu...
Informative Abstract: In today's society breastfeeding is a controversial issue. Perhaps this is because people tend to form opinions before they know the facts. Take a minute and ask yourself a few simple questions. What do you really know about breast milk? How is produced? How does breastfeeding...
Specifically, due to those PCBs in the body mimic estrogen, women of childbearing age and their infants are particularly susceptible to a variety of development and reproductive disorders. Once in the body, these compounds do either one of two things: they block the usual passage of hormones, or, mimic the hormone itself and take the place of the hormone. ...
My thyroid is a small bowtie or butterfly-shaped gland, located in my neck, wrapped around the windpipe, behind and below the Adam's apple area. The thyroid produces several hormones. These hormones help oxygen get into cells, and make my thyroid the most master gland of metabolism. When you suff...
Pollution and Politics One would think in this day and age of information that public health and environmental protection would be better than ever. When in fact it would appear the opposite is true and as we approach November, this is going to be, in my opinion, a most pivotal issue for the pr...
Collies bred to mimic a rare human immune deficiency wag their tails happily when scientists come into their room. ... This test is unreliable because the amount of estrogen in the diet can make the uteri more or less responsive to the drug influencing the results. ...
