Chemicals in the Environment and Endocrine disruptors
September 29th, 2009
Over the past few years large quantities of man-made chemicals have been produced and released, thus, polluting the environment. A large number of these chemicals that are released have the ability to change the action of hormones in the human body. These substances are called endocrine disrupters. These disrupters have the property to disrupt the cell receptors of the human body. The balanced action of the endocrine system is very essential for the proper functioning of the human body and this is more important in the females. The importance of the adequate functioning in females is because of the fertility and menstrual cycle in females is very sensitive to any imbalance in the hormones.
The endocrine system in a human body is a set of glands and the hormone produced by them. These glands in the human body are responsible for the development, reproduction, growth and behavior of animals and humans. Both natural and manmade chemicals have the tendency to interfere with the functioning of these glands and the hormones produced by them and also on the target tissues where the produced hormones act. These chemicals are called endocrine disruptors. Humans get exposed to these substances via contaminated water and food. From chemicals used in consumer products to industrial processes, EDCs are omnupresent!
These endocrine disruptors, also referrred as hormonally active agents are a matter of concern because they have harmful effects on the growth, reproduction and development in humans and also in animals. Due to the disturbance in the endocrine system some type of cancer can also be a cause of worry. These chemical compounds can affect the body through a number of mechanisms. Firstly they can bind the cell receptors which will result in an unnecessary response by commencing the normal reaction to the cell at a wrong time or to a greater extent. This is called the agonistic effect. There is another effect called the antagonistic effect where it will stop the binding of the natural hormone. The human body has a certain amount of natural hormones in the blood and these chemicals can stop the transportation of the proteins through the blood stream. Another effect is that these endocrine disruptors may obstruct the natural metabolic processes of the body which will affect the breakdown rate of the hormones in the body.
These endocrine disruptors are found in many things around us, thus the level of exposure for everyone is high. Chemicals; the traces of which have been found in humans are DDT, Polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and many others. Some of the effects that these disruptors have are reproductive tract abnormality, vaginal cancer, semen abnormalities in men, abnormalities in penis, lower cholesterol, delayed neurological developments and many others.
The effect the chemicals can have can vary from person to person and some who are exposed may not be affected at all. But the embryo and the fetus can be adversely affected by the chemicals as their development and their growth is controlled by the endocrine system. This can result in lifelong abnormality or even abnormalities in reproduction. The time for which the body is exposed can also alter the effect the disruptors will have on the human body. The effect of these disruptors can be seen in later stages of life or at times in the next generation.
The endocrine disruptors are exogenous substances which alter the functioning of the endocrine system and this can have serious effects on the health of both humans and animals. They affect normal functions of the cells and the hormones in the human body which can have lasting effects. One needs to be careful and take adequate precautions by staying away from the chemicals and thus, their harmful effect.
Facts: The term Endocrine Disruptor was first coined by Theo Colborn in 1991 at a conference at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin. She later stated that envorinmental chemicals disrupt the development of our endocrine system.
