HW#8 Endocrine System Disrupting Chemicals
Many chemicals, both natural and man-made, may mimic or interfere with the body’s
ability to use hormones. This internal process is known as the endocrine system. Called
endocrine disruptors, these chemicals are linked with developmental, reproductive, brain,
immune, and many other problems.
Endocrine disruptors are found in many everyday products, including some plastic
bottles and containers, liners of metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys,
cosmetics, and pesticides. Some endocrine-disrupting chemicals are slow to break-down in
the environment. That characteristic makes them potentially hazardous over time.
Endocrine disruptors cause adverse effects in animals. But limited scientific information
exists on potential health problems in humans. Because people are typically exposed to
multiple endocrine disruptors at the same time, assessing the public health effects is
difficult.
1. Select an endocrine disruptor from the following list:
Bisphenol A (BPA), perchlorate, dioxins, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS), phthalates, phytoestrogens, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDW), polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB), triclosan
2. Research your endocrine disruptor, using a minimum of THREE sources. Type the
answers to the following questions and provide the APA citations for all three sources.
Upload this completed work as your homework assignment. A research form paper is
not required for this assignment. Answering these direct questions is fine.
1. When was this chemical created/discovered?
2. Who created/discovered this chemical?
them in APA format. If you do not, it is called plagiarism! And you will get a zero on this
assignment.