Xenoestrogens are man-made chemical compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. They have a similar chemical structure as natural estrogen, but the differences will disrupt the hormonal balance in both men and women. Many people are exposed to these toxins on a daily basis because they are contained in plastic products that release xenoestrogens each time the products are used. The synthetic chemicals are also found in drugs, fuels and pesticides.
Breast Cancer
Organochlorines, which include xenoestrogens, are found concentrated in cancer tissue, in contrast with the surrounding non-cancer tissue that do not contain xenoestrogens. The xenoestrogens are not only toxic in and of themselves, but they also produce an estrogen type activity in the body. They tend to disassemble relatively quickly in the body and then prevent the natural hormone from binding at the cellular level. This prevents estrogen from performing its natural function. The xenoestrogens can then move into the nucleus of this receptor cells and disrupt the growth and division, causing abnormal replication and breast cancer, according to Feminist Women's Health Center.
Infertility
Natural estrogen is responsible for stimulating cell division inside the uterus, breast tissue and ovaries. According to NaturalHealthforFertility.com, when xenoestrogens are overloaded in the body it can mimic the action of natural estrogen and stimulate tissue growth causing ovarian cyst, endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease and leading ultimately to infertility. Women who experience infertility are advised to detoxify prior to conception because the xenoestrogens can also cause miscarriages, be present in breast milk and cross the placenta during gestation.
Insulin
A 2000 study published by "Proceedings of the National Academy Of Sciences of the United States Of America" found that xenoestrogens were responsible for disruption in the islets of Langerhans, the cells in the pancreas responsible for producing and secreting insulin. Previously, a chemical found in plastic products and a known xenoestrogen was thought to have a lower rate of action on the islet cells. This study showed, however, that remarkably low concentrations had stronger negative actions. This disruption at the islet cells can lead to a lower production of insulin in the body.
Birth Defects
According to NaturalHealthforFertility.com, xenoestrogens cross the placental barrier during gestation and will be especially harmful to the developing baby and their sexual organs. This leads to birth defects in the child with potential increasing damage as the xenoestrogens cross from mother to baby in breast milk.
References
- Feminist Women's Health Center: Xenoestrogens and Breast Cancer: Nowhere to Run
- NaturalHealthforFertility.com: Xenoestrogen Can Be the Cause of Your Infertility
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States; "Nongenomic Actions of Estrogens and Xenoestrogens by Binding at a Plasma Membrane Receptor Unrelated to Estrogen Receptor a and Estrogen Receptor B"; Angel Nadal; June 2000
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