Endocrine Disruptors - P. Karthika - Bog

Endocrine systems, also referred to as hormone systems, are found in all mammals, birds, fish, and many other types of living organisms. A hormone is a chemical produced by specific cells, mostly within an endocrine gland, and released into the bloodstream to communicate with another part of the body. It is often referred to as a 'chemical messenger'. Hormones are found in all multicellular organisms and their role is to provide an internal communication system between cells located in distant parts of the body.

A person with an irregular level of hormones is called as having hormonal disorder. This disorder affects growth and development, digestion, breathing, blood circulation, sexual function, metabolism, and reproduction. The human endocrine system not only responds to hormones, but also to external environmental stimuli such as chemicals, and steroidal drugs. So, monitoring endocrine disrupting chemicals is an important task to save species on water planet.

Numerous compounds derived from both natural and synthetic can mimic or interfere with the hormones secreted from the human endocrine system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines these compounds as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Further, they were described as "an exogenous mediator". Most people are exposed to endocrine disruptors through air, water and food.