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The Environmental Endocrine Issue

• Tags:
• natural,
• chemicals,
• substances,
• levels

Overview This document provides a description of the issue, background on the endocrine system and a perspective on whether small amounts of chemicals in the environment could be causing adverse health effects by interfering with the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. The endocrine system is described, including the natural fluctuations of hormone levels as the system responds dynamically to external stimuli and internal cycles. The identification of some substances as hormone mimics or environmental estrogens is explained, including commonly used and recognized synthetic (manmade) hormones produced by drug companies for medical treatment, hormonally active industrial products in the environment and naturally occurring estrogenic substances in plants. The concept of potency is introduced, noting the very low potency of most manmade chemicals compared to natural estrogens. Examples are provided of the many hormonally active substances that are naturally occurring in common foods in the human diet.

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