News Coverage
Star Tribune: Human Hormones, Chemicals a Bad Mix
Research about everyday chemicals that may harm human health is piling up. Some people say government regulators have handled the situation irresponsibly. Others say more study is needed.
Published June 15, 2009
First organic food -- free of pesticides -- had the spotlight. Then consumers learned about buying cosmetics without parabens. Just last month Minnesota banned the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles and sippy cups.
The mounting health cautions might seem tedious -- does every little thing cause cancer? -- but a common thread weaves through the concerns. Numerous everyday products are made with chemicals that may disrupt people's endocrine system, which is also known as the hormone system.
A quick primer: The endocrine system is responsible for brain and nervous system development, reproduction, metabolism and blood sugar. Hormones, including estrogen and testosterone, are like messengers moving through the body, telling receptors on cells what to do.
The problem is that many chemicals -- called endocrine disruptors -- mimic hormones. They attach to receptors and cause cell division, altered gene expression and other harmful changes.
Click her to read the entire article: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/47941202.html?elr=KArks7PYDi...
