Respond by Backing up your answer with a reliable scientific website (EX: Nation

Question

Respond by Backing up your answer with a reliable scientific website (EX: National Geographic, PBS, Discovery, Smithsonian, New Scientist, Nature, Scientific American, Science Daily, New Science, The Guardian, Science News, Biology News, Popular Science, The New York Times Science Section, The Scientist).

Many of the pesticides and plastics used today are suspected of acting as an endocrine disruptor. Do some reliable scientific research (and cite your source) to find out what an endocrine disruptor is and how this might affect the human population. Do you feel that the public knows about the issue of endocrine disruptors? What changes might you make in your life to minimize your exposure to endocrine disruptors? And think about how much you use plastic everyday. Could our culture of convenience live without the majority of the plastic we use? Make sure to include a citation of the scientific research used to help you develop this learning log assignment.

Explanation / Answer

Endocrine disruptors are the compounds which can be natural or man-made, which mimic or inhibit the hormones functioning in the body. These disrupters work by turning off or modifying signals that hormones carry thus affecting normal functions of organs and tissues.

People are exposed to endocrine disruptors through the consumption of food and beverages, medicines, pesticides, cosmetics etc. These exposures may enter through diet, skin, air, and water. Example of some environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals is DDT, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These are slowly degradable and persistent and hence hazardous.

Mechanism of Endocrine disruptors action -

Minimizing exposure by avoiding or reducing plastic use will reduce exposure and effect of endocrine disrupters. Using more reusable and biodegradation material like paper instead of plastic will reduce the exposure.

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