Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Associated Disorders
Human body system depends upon many hormones. Hormones are specific chemicals secreted from special glands called endocrine glands. They act like chemical messengers in the body, secreted by one gland and act on another organ called target organ. In short hormones act like messengers in the body and target specific in their action. Hormones are generally secreted in very less amount and this minute amount plays very very important roles in the body. There is a regulatory mechanism/system for hormone secretion and action exists in the body. This system is called endocrine systems. Chemicals that affect these endocrine systems are called endocrine disruptors. Actually in a healthy body there is a well-maintained balance exists in the body for hormonal action known as homeostatic systems. Even a minor disturbance can cause imbalances in the hormone system and can cause disease.
Examples of hormonal imbalance disease include diabetes, thyrodism, infertility, obesity, impaired immune system and some types of cancer.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals particularly and specifically affects endocrine systems in various ways. Due to the complexity of the system and mechanism, the mode of action is not discussed here. In a simple note, one can understand that it’s like lock-key mechanisms.
Many chemicals have endocrine-disrupting properties. These include bisphenol A, some organochlorines, polybrominated flame retardants, perfluorinated substances, alkylphenols, phthalates, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Alkylphenol, solvents, and some household products including some cleaning products, air freshners, hair dyes, cosmetics and sunscreens.
Many observations suggesting that endocrine disruptors do contribute to cancer, diabetes, obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and infertility.
To address this issue, American Endocrine Society and the American Chemical society recommend increased efforts at identifying and studying endocrine disruptors, better information to the public in general and to healthcare professionals and to chemists in particular. The American Chemical Society emphasized at identifying and developing functional alternatives (Natural Alternatives and Green Chemistry Research) that do not have endocrine-disrupting activity. In addition they also stressed on implementation of physical-chemical hygiene.
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