Hormone disruptors and effects on human development

Endocrine System

In the human body there is an endocrine system, the function of the endocrine glands is to regulate behavior by means of certain activating secretions or hormones, which poured into the bloodstream, produce certain useful effects. The endocrine system is the set of glands and the hormones they produce that guides the development, growth, reproduction, and behavior of human beings and other animals. (Pettit, 2000, p. 413)

The function of the brain is to receive, mediate, and transmit nerve impulses. In a given social community, the function of the lawyer, judge, legislator, treasurer, is to perform the duties pertaining to his peculiar office. (Patrick, 1929, p. 108) the endocrine system regulates hormones that are directly related to the fight or flight response. Depending on the amount of specific hormones i.e. adrenaline released into one's system determines whether or not the individual will feel the need to take flight "run" or fight "stand" their ground.

Hormones, such as estrogen, androgen, and thyroid, travel through the body and cause specific responses when they are received by hormone receptors. Hormone (or endocrine) disruptors interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system. They can: mimic a natural hormone and thus fool the body into responding a certain way, interfere with the reception of hormones by hormone receptors, directly alter a hormone and impede its function, cause the body to overproduce or under produce natural hormones, or decrease or increase the number of hormone receptors.