Assessment of Potential Exposure and Health Risks from Exposure to Environmental Estrogen Among Helwan University Students

Abstract

SUMMARY F or many years humans have been adding chemicals and pollutants to the environment. Some of these chemicals can alter endocrine function e.g. can alter the synthesis, catabolism and action of natural hormones and their corresponding receptors. These substances are often termed environmental estrogens or “xenoestrogens” or ecoestrogens but are also sometimes referred to as endocrine disruptors or endocrine modulators. Many of these chemicals (which include pesticides, plasticizers, household products and detergents, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals) are now present in nature. In addition, humans are exposed to these chemicals through the food chain via bioaccumulation. One of the biggest health threats facing humans today is the excess estrogen assault from our environment. Detection of estrogens in the environment has raised concerns in recent years because of their potential to affect both wildlife and humans. In recent years there has been a growing evidence that exposure to chemicals in the environment poses a serious threat to human and animals reproduction via disrupting effects on endocrine function. Despite the fact that these substances are persistent, they may be metabolized into more toxic compounds than the parent molecule in endocrine organs. This endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) adversely affect health and reproduction even at very low concentrations and may exert their effects on the embryo and fetus. An endocrine disrupter is an exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny, or (sub) populations”. There are clearly two requirements for a substance to be defined as an endocrine disrupter, namely that of the demonstration of an adverse effect and of an endocrine disruption mode-of-action. Additionally, the definition implies proof of causality between the observed adverse effect and the endocrine disruption mode-of-action. Environmental exogenous estrogens, otherwise referred to as xenoestrogens or ecoestrogens, are endocrine disruptors, structurally similar to estrogens. Xenoestrogens are clinically significant because they can mimic the effects of endogenous estrogen and thus have been implicated in precocious puberty and other disorders of the reproductive system. Exogenous estrogens can be found in pesticides, flexible plastics, interior lining of canned foods, various cosmetics and numerous other products. Exogenous estrogens are thought to cause many detrimental health effects. EDs are exogenous compounds that interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, and/or action of endogenous hormones that are responsible for normal homeostasis, reproduction, and development. Chemicals with hormonal activity can be divided into three main groups: (i) synthetic compounds used in industry and agriculture as well as in consumer products, (ii) synthetic compounds used in pharmaceutical drugs, and (iii) natural compounds present in the food chain. This cross-section survey was conducted in Helwan University. This study was carried out randomly on one hundred students 60 female and 40 male. The students were subjected to History taking asking for manifestations of estrogen dominance, we also checked exposure to chemical substances which are commonly used in day to day living and have estrogenic effect. Both General and local examination for the students including measuring the weight, height, waist circumference then calculating BMI, distribution of body fat and breast examination for detecting gynecomastia in males. Blood samples were collected for female students testing 17b Estradiol hormone. For the male students Semen analysis was done. For the female students Pelvic ultrasound was done searching for signs of endocrinal disruption as PCO (poly cystic ovary) or Fibroids.