The possibility that some environmental chemical contaminants may interfere with endocrine system function and adversely affect human health should be investigated, concludes "Hormonally Active Agents in the Environment", a new report from the National Research Council. The agents involved include a wide variety of chemicals that mimic the actions of hormones. They include substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene(DDE), and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF). Exposure to these agents has been shown to have adverse reproductive and developmental effects in humans, wildlife, and laboratory animals. People may come into contact with these chemicals by consuming food contaminated with agents such as PCBs or dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)--which has long been banned in the United States but is still made and used in other countries--and by using commercial products such as cleaners, pesticides, and food additives. The committee focused its attention on compounds that have been reported to induce reproductive changes, developmental defects, neurobehavioral abnormalities, immunologic deficits, carcinogenesis, and adverse ecologic effects. Ann's NOTE: And those are just the chemicals, compounds and products they know about. |
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