Hormones and Society: Endocrine disruptors

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Hormones and Society Endocrine disruptors What
are they? Exogenous substances that act as
hormones In the endocrine system Some studies
have shown that endocrine disruptors
disrupt normal hormonal cycles in humans
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Concern emerges from increased sighting of
weird defects in animals
What is causing them?
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Lou Gillette sampling blood from Florida alligator
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Ratios of estrogen/testosterone in male and
female Alligators in Florida lakes
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Sexual development in juvenile male alligators
Estrogen/testosterone ratio
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Higher rate of allergies
What is causing them?
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Allergies to Latex
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Allergies more prevalent in industrialized nations
New diet treatments include peanut butter
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Term was coined in 1991 at a conference in
Wisconsin Theo Colburn argued that environmental
chemicals disrupt development of the endocrine
system Effects of exposure during development
are permanent. A variety of substances -Hormon
es -Plant constituents -Pesticides -Compounds
used in the plastics industry -Other industrial
by-products
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Health effects Reproductive problems -Reduced
fertility -Male female reproductive tract
abnormalities -Skewed male/female sex
ratios -Loss of fetus -Menstrual
problems Changes in hormone levels -Early
puberty -Brain and behavior problems -Impaired
immune functions -Cancers
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Some examples and controversies Bisphenol A An
organic compound (CH3)2C(C6H4OH)2 A key
monomer used in production of plastic and
epoxy Also used as an antioxidant in
plasticizers and in PVC pipes
Estradiol-very similar
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People vary in how much Bisphenol A they have
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Some lab data
Dose (µg/kg/day) Effects (lab
animals) Study year 0.025 Changes
to genital tract 2005 0.025 Changes
in breast tissue 2005 2.00 30
increase in prostate 1997 2.40
Signs of early puberty
2002 2.40
Decline in testosterone 2004
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Bisphenol A seems to reduce sperm motility
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Bisphenol A affects insulin levels - Diabetes
A major health problem
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Problem Plastics are all around usand we often
wash them Example Baby bottles
A movement back towards glass??
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Endocrine disruptors and fish sex Potomac river
basin
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Polluted water and damaged fish on peoples minds
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Remember Acid Rain?
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In theory, water put back is clean
(Dont bother trying To recreate drawing)
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Agricultural runoff a source of contamination
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Contamination can occur from sewage systems
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Streams and endocrine disruptors
Upstream from wastewater plant 18 females, 14
males, no intersex fish Downstream 49 females,
5 males, 4 intersex fish Upstream from plant 4
females, 2 males, no intersex fish Downstream
16 females, no males, 4 intersex fish
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Experiments in wastewater 7 days exposure
Males began producing a sex hormone 14 days
Males began to lose their sex organs 28 days
Male testes diminished lose sperm production
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Presence of Ova within male fish testes
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Hormones can affect sex in mature animals
Ex. Dog had tumor that produced Estrogen
converted male dog into Part female
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Problem not restricted to Colorado rivers
Largemouth bass male fish that are
intersex Virginia South Fork Shenandoah river
80 North Fork Shenandoah river
100 Maryland Momocacy Conocheague creeks
80-100
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More problems in Colorado 2003 The city of
Boulder and USGS found small concentrations of
Tylenol and nicotine in creeks near
Bolder Mostly downstream from wastewater
plant Other studies David Norris integrative
physiologist discovered that fish just below the
plant were changing sex Potential culprits
birth-control and epilepsy medication
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Trace amounts of pharmaceuticals may be seeping
into water Side effects in animal
populations Fish -Lower sperm counts -Damaged
sperm -Males becoming feminized -Females
producing male genital organs Other animals
Kidney failure in vultures, impaired
reproduction In mussels, inhibited growth in
algae
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People flushing their meds down the toilet?
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What IS polluted?
Looks pristine to me.