So what are “endocrine disrupting chemicals?” The body’s endocrine glands are the glands that have no ducts. Exocrine glands have ducts that carry the product to where the body needs it, such as the sweat, salivary, bile and pancreatic glands. Endocrine glands, on the other hand have no ducts. The products they make are removed by the blood flow through them.

The endocrine glands produce relatively small quantities of chemicals which act as hormones, controlling the activity and production of other parts of the body. Familiar endocrine glands are the thyroid, pituitary, prostate, testis, ovaries and adrenal glands. You might think of them as regulators for the body.

The chemistry of these glands has been delayed because the quantities produced are so small. The pituitary is the size of a pea, and produces eight hormones! The quantity of each of these hormones is very, very small!

Endocrine disrupting chemicals can be present in the environment in very small amounts as well. Far below chemicals damaging the body by other mechanisms, and far below what chemists like to work with. They are particularly damaging to young children and even before birth. In fact little was done in this chemistry before 1991. It was just too complicated. It is now developing rapidly and one major focus is on the Oil and Gas program of TEDX, mentioned above. If you would like more information, go to that reference.

Tom Bond, Lewis County, WV