Question: what chemicals cause endorine disruption?

Elaine Marshall answered on 18 Jun 2013:

An endocrine disruptor is a chemical which interferes with the endogenous hormone of the organism. This is a new and emerging idea and sometime contentious! However there is evidence that some plastic-based chemical are capable of accumulating in an organism (human) body and disrupt normal endocrine function. This may lead to developmental disorders, fertility problems or even cancers.

“A wide range of substances, both natural and man-made, are thought to cause endocrine disruption, including pharmaceuticals, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT and other pesticides, and plasticizers such as bisphenol A.” (U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)

The chemicals disrupt the endocrine system by knocking out the homeostasis of the body’s normal levels. They can mimic the endogenous hormone leading to a false increase level of hormone. they can bind to the hormone receptor but not activate it – thereby blocking the binding of the natural hormone. Disruptors can also binds to transport proteins in the blood reducing the amount of circulating endogenous levels or even alter enzymes responsible for metabolizing endogenous hormones.