Here is a quick summary straight from the website of the Hormone Health Network:Â
"The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that produce, store, and secrete hormones. In normal operations, the endocrine system works with other systems to regulate the healthy development and function of your body throughout your life. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances in the environment (air, soil, or water supply), food sources, personal care products, and manufacturers.Â
What are EDC's?Â
EDCs are chemicals or chemical mixtures that interfere with the way hormones work in the body.Â
Some EDCs act like "hormone mimics" and trick our body into thinking that they are hormones, while other EDCs block natural hormones from doing their job. Other EDCs may increase or decrease hormone levels in our blood by affecting how they are made, broken down, or stored in our body . Finally, other EDCs may change how sensitive our bodies are to different hormones.Â
EDCs can interfere with many different hormones, which is why they have been linked to numerous adverse effects on human health including changes in sperm quality and fertility, sex organ abnormalities, endometriosis, early puberty, altered nervous system function, immune function, certain cancers, respiratory problems, metabolic problems, diabetes , obesity, cardiovascular problems, growth, neurology
