Environmental Estrogens

Our collective brow has been furrowed with worry lately over the estrogen-like chemicals in our environment—present in everything from food to pesticides to detergents—and with good reason. Even at low levels, they’re known to interfere with sperm activity, and some may increase breast cancer risk. But scientists have remained befuddled about one thing: exactly how such small amounts could manage to cause so much harm.

Now, researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, in Galveston, may have an answer—and more reason for concern.

While studying a particular cellular mechanism that has received little attention in the past, they discovered that extremely low levels of estrogen-like chemicals can interfere with normal cell signaling. We’re talking tiny: The levels used in the experiment were hundreds to millions of times lower than the levels previously shown to spell trouble.

Further research is needed to understand just how specific estrogenic chemicals can affect us and how we can protect ourselves, says Cheryl Watson, the study’s lead author and a professor of human biological chemistry and genetics.

In the meantime, it’s not a bad idea to redouble your efforts to eat organic foods and use all-natural products whenever possible.

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