Endocrine Disruptors Overview

<p>Increased susceptibility to certain diseases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Endocrine disruptors are found in many everyday products. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Producing polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Dioxins (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They act as hormone-like substances. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They make plastics more flexible. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Disease or dysfunction (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Triclosan (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It influences the function of various tissues. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In flame retardants for household products (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To make plastics more flexible (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reduced anogenital distance in male offspring (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sperm concentration among Western men declined by more than 50% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Enhanced spermatogenic function (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neither testicle descends into the scrotum (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased exposure to environmental factors and EDCs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reproductive toxicity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Poor semen quality and male subfertility (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They would have low levels of PCBs. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>PCBs were found at 7x the levels in Inuit women's breast milk. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Blood, urine, and hair. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>No Observable Adverse Effect Level. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They can disrupt hormonal pathways and affect multiple systems. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Toxins building up in higher concentrations as they move up the food web. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It assesses the population's body burden of chemicals. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It represents the lowest dose that produces an observable effect. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Regulation of reproductive systems in males and females (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Infertility and cryptorchidism in males (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By inhibiting Hoxa10 expression through regulation of ERE (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Risk of breast cancer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Disorganized smooth muscle tissue (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Embryo resorption and implantation failure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It increases the likelihood of developing cancers after 20-40 years (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Infertility (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>BPA binds to both nuclear and membrane-bound estrogen receptors. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It causes reduced methylation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They can also be dysregulated due to a cascade effect. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Became the first nation to ban BPA in baby bottles. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It may still contain other estrogenic substances. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Alterations in gene expression that lead to tumorigenesis. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>VEGF, TGFα, and BCl2. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An exogenous substance that disrupts normal hormone functions in the body.

Endocrine disruptors interfere with hormone production, transport, action, or removal.

Factors influencing endocrine disruption are not entirely known.

Early exposure to endocrine disruptors can have long-lasting health consequences.

Reducing exposure to endocrine disruptors faces considerable challenges.

Chemicals that interfere with the body's hormone system, disrupting its normal functions.

The system of glands that produce hormones to regulate body functions.

A chemical used in plastics that can disrupt hormones.

Chemicals produced during industrial processes, including herbicide manufacturing and waste burning, also found in fire.

Used in industrial applications like firefighting foam and non-stick cookware; they can disrupt the endocrine system.

A chemical messenger that travels through the body and regulates various processes and functions.

A disruption in the endocrine system leading to either too much or too little of a hormone.

Regulates growth, development, tissue functions, reproduction, and metabolism.

The transfer of substances, including chemicals, from the mother's bloodstream to the developing fetus through the placenta.

The process of producing and secreting milk from the mammary glands, primarily for nourishing offspring.

The increasing concentration of toxins in organisms as they move up the food chain.

The process of measuring chemicals and their metabolites in human tissues to assess exposure levels.

A graph that shows the relationship between the dose of a substance and the observed effect.

No Observable Adverse Effect Level: The highest dose of a substance that does not produce any observable adverse effects.

Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level: The lowest dose of a substance that produces an observable adverse effect.

Periods in development where an organism is more vulnerable to the effects of environmental factors, including toxins.

Phthalates are chemicals commonly added to plastics to make them more flexible. They can be found in toys, flooring, detergents, food packaging, and personal care products.

Exposure to phthalates during fetal development can lead to adverse health effects in adulthood, including alterations in reproductive health, neurodevelopment, and respiratory systems. These effects can even be passed down to future generations.

Studies have shown that phthalates can negatively impact reproductive health, neurodevelopment, and respiratory systems. This includes problems like reduced anogenital distance in male offspring, undescended testes, and poor semen quality in adults.

Studies have shown that semen quality has been declining globally over the past 50 years. This is a cause for concern as it may contribute to male infertility and reproductive issues.

Testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) is a cluster of reproductive abnormalities in males, including cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and testicular cancer. It is believed to be linked to exposure to endocrine disruptors like phthalates.

Cryptorchidism is a condition where one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum before birth. It is a common manifestation of testicular dysgenesis syndrome and can affect fertility.

Endocrine disruptors are substances that interfere with the normal function of hormones in the body. They can mimic, block, or alter the actions of hormones, leading to various health problems.

Examples of endocrine disruptors include phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), pesticides, and some industrial chemicals. These chemicals can be found in various consumer products and can have a significant impact on human health.

Xenoestrogens are synthetic chemicals that mimic the effects of natural estrogens in the body.

Xenoestrogens can disrupt reproductive processes in animals, leading to issues like ovulatory defects, impaired embryo development, decreased semen quality, and even infertility.

BPA binds to estrogen receptors, altering tissues, cells, and gene expression in estrogen-sensitive organs like the brain, mammary glands, ovaries, uterus, etc.

Proto-oncogenes are genes that regulate cell growth and division. When they are activated or mutated, they can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.

BPA can interfere with DNA methylation, which is an important epigenetic process that regulates gene expression. It can both reduce and increase methylation depending on the specific genes and environmental factors.

DNMTs are enzymes that add methyl groups to DNA, influencing gene expression and playing a critical role in epigenetic regulation.

BPA has been declared toxic due to its potential to disrupt the endocrine system, affecting reproduction, development, and overall health.

While products labeled 'BPA Free' are often assumed to be safer, they may still contain other estrogenic chemicals, meaning they may still have endocrine-disrupting effects.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) inhibits the expression of the Hoxa10 gene, a crucial regulator of reproductive development. This occurs through estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) binding to specific regions of the Hoxa10 gene.

The Homeobox-a10 (Hoxa10) gene plays a critical role in the development of both male and female reproductive systems. It's a key player in the proper development of testes, ovaries, and endometrial tissue.

Mice lacking the Hoxa10 gene (knockout mice) demonstrate significant reproductive issues. Males exhibit infertility and undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), while females have problems with implantation and embryo survival.

DES exposure disrupts the delicate balance of cell signaling pathways involved in reproductive development. It alters the expression of genes like Wnt7a and Wnt5a, leading to improper cell specialization and disorganized tissues.

Women who were prescribed DES during pregnancy face an elevated risk of breast cancer compared to the general population. Animal studies further demonstrate the potential for DES to cause cancer in various organs.

DES daughters, exposed to the drug in utero, have a substantially increased risk of developing a rare vaginal and cervical cancer called Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma (CCA).

DES exerts its negative effects primarily through its impact on Hoxa10 gene function, a key regulator of reproductive development. This disruption leads to a range of adverse outcomes, impacting both the mothers and their daughters.

DES exposure during pregnancy, especially for mothers and long-term exposure for adults, is linked to an increased risk of developing various cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and reproductive tract cancers.