Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
1. Endocrine disrupting chemicals
are widespread in the environment, water, and food chain and are accumulating in fish and wildlife as well as
in the water and food chain and in people to levels that are having significant
hormonal and reproductive affects on fish and wildlife, and significant neurological, hormonal, immune,
and reproductive effects on
millions of people. The endocrine
system controls the body’s main functions through supply of proper levels of
hormones, and toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals are accumulating in the
hormone glands and affect hormone function adversely at extremely low
levels.
2. Endocrine disrupting chemicals
that people and wildlife are commonly exposed to include Dioxins,
Polychlorinated Biphenyls(PCBs), Polyaromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Pesticides, Phthalates, Mercury,
and Organic
solvents.
3. These chemicals and substances are
accumulating in fish and wildlife, and the number of warnings regarding the eating
of fish and wildlife due to these is increasing and has reached over 30% of
total U.S. lakes, along with 15% of U.S. river miles, all Great Lakes, and most
bays. Studies document that these
chemicals are accumulating in fish and wildlife to levels that are causing
serious hormonal and reproductive effects in fish and wildlife at the top of
the food chain such as wading birds, alligators, Florida panthers, minks, polar
bears, seals, beluga and orca whales, etc.
Many subpopulations with significant exposure are experiencing major reproductive effects
resulting in infertility and reproductive failures.
4. The National Academy of
Sciences has indicated in a report that low levels of these chemicals such as
are commonly found in fish and wildlife are sufficient to cause developmental effects
in infants, and that 10% of all women of reproductive age already have body
burdens sufficient to result in a high likelihood of developmental effects. A
newer study
has found dangerous levels of mercury in over 20% of women of childbearing
age. Some of the conditions documented to be
caused include spontaneous abortions, birth defects, learning disabilities,
ADD,
cancer, immune
and autoimmune conditions, etc.
5. For
limited informative on testing and alleviating these conditions for those who
are affected by these conditions, see DAMS page
For those of you who are in Florida, a group
that is making efforts to educate the public and slow the spread of endocrine
disrupting chemicals in the environment is Florida League of Conservation
Voters(FLCV) www.FLORIDALCV.org
