Reproductive disorders breast cancer

M ale and female hormones play a vital role because they aid in development and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics and are necessary for human reproduction. Although hormones are naturally produced by die body, administration of a male or female hormone may be indicated in the treatment of certain disorders, such as inoperable breast cancer, male hypogonadism, and male or female hormone deficiency. Hormones also are used as contraceptives and for treating the symptoms of menopause... 

D. J. Hunter and R. T. Relsey, Pesticide Residues and Breast Cancer The Harvest of a Silent Spring, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 85 (1995) 598-99 R. El-Bayoumy, Environmental Carcinogens That May be Involved in Human Breast Cancer Etiology, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 5 (1995) 585-90 R. M. Sharpe and N. F. Skakkebaek, Are Oestrogens Involved in Falling Sperm Counts and Disorders of the Male Reproductive Tract Lancet541 (1995) 1592-95. 

What of the effects in humans While there is evidence, some of it controversial, that changes have occurred in the reproductive systems of humans in various countries throughout the world over the last fifty years or so, ascribing these changes to particular chemicals, or even to chemicals at all, has been difficult. There has been an increase in testicular cancer as well as breast cancer since 1945, particularly in certain countries. Data from studies of populations in some countries, for example Finland, have indicated that sperm counts and the quality of the sperm in males have declined over the same time period, but by no means aU studies have found this and some have found the reverse. In some places there has been an apparent increase in disorders of the male reproductive system such as... 

Hormone disruption refers to a chemical s ability to mimic or block the action of the body s own hormones, or its ability to interfere with normal hormone production or breakdown in some way. Chemicals that are able to disrupt sex and thyroid hormones have been particularly under the spotlight, but other hormones, such as those of the adrenal gland, may also be subject to disruption. The overall result appears to be damage to reproductive, immune, and nervous systems, and increases in birth defects, selected cancers, and learning disabilities. For the last three decades, there has been a disconcerting increase in the incidence of such human health disorders as breast cancer, testicular cancer, hypospadias (a birth defect where the urethra does not open at the end of the penis) and learning disabilities. 

The presence of EDCs in the body affects functions such as metabolic and reproductive processes including embryonic development, gonadal formation, sex differentiation, growth, and digestion. They are plausibly linked to diseases including prostate cancer, breast cancer, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma, and reproductive problems (Myers et al, 2009 Swan et al., 2000). Though not toxins in the conventional sense, EDCs lead to serious adverse health outcomes in both animals and humans. Conditions linked to exposure to EDCs, such as reproductive problems, incidence of certain cancers, asthma, obesity, diabetes, behavioral or learning disorders, and ADHD, are on the increase worldwide. Of this disease burden, 24-33% has been attributed to environmental contributions (Smith et al., 1999). 

Cui Y, Page DL, Lane DS, Rohan TE. Menstrual and reproductive history, postmenopausal hormone use, and risk of benign proliferative epithelial disorders of the breast a cohort study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2009 114(1) 113-20. 

---