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advertisement  There are literally thousands of organic and synthetic compounds that can contaminate our drinking water. The focus of this 2nd part of a three part series on our drinking water will limit itself to the estrogen/estrogen-like compounds we should be very concerned about. In 1929 Doisy and Butenandt isolated an estrogen compound from the urine of pregnant women. In the 1930’s estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) surged, with about 12% of postmenopausal women using ERT. Premarin® (one of the leading prescribed drugs) saw growth of 170% from 1963 to 1966 and quickly becomes one of the top drugs dispensed in America until recently. Estrogens in lower doses are used in birth control pills (BCP). In the 1990’s there has been great interest in the implications of environmental exposures of both humans and other wildlife to estrogens, placed in a class of agents called endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). These endocrine disruptors interfere with the synthesis, secretion, binding and action of natural hormones in our bodies. They affect reproduction, development and behavior in humans (and other organisms as well.) Endocrine disrupting water pollutants such as dioxin, bisphenol A, pesticides, some plastics, some cleansers, pharmaceuticals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are well know toxic compounds and know to be linked to reproductive health problems from endometriosis to low sperm counts. Some less obvious natural compounds derived from lignans (fruits and vegetables), isoflavones (soy) and antiherbivore compounds in many plant should not be left off the list, albeit their low potency. North America contributes 40% of worldwide pesticide use, and this is a major high-potency toxin. The survival of any species depends on its ability to develop and reproduce, and with EDC toxins in our environment they become a challenge to our survival. Research has shown that some of the most potent EDCs are both natural and synthetic Estradiol (Ethinylestradiol). The concern is the effects of estradiol or other EDCs found in our wastewater, which contaminates our drinking water. Environmental estrogens can affect in a very negative way the human hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal hormonal axis. They can cause decreased fertility, skew the gender ratio to that of female, feminization of genetic males, and potentate cancers (breast, testicular, prostate). Several compounds demonstrate estrogenic activity in humans. They include chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, industrial surfactant degradation products, by-products of the pulp and paper mill industry, and growth promoters in livestock feed. As far as the excreted estrogens from BCP use, until recently people thought the estrogens in birth control pills were rendered inactive by the body because the kidneys tack on an extra sugar molecule before they are excreted in the urine. But according to toxicologists who researched estrogen patches for Proctor & Gamble, scientists have learned bacteria in sewage treatment plants chew off this sugar molecule exposing this hormone to human estrogen receptors once again. Fish have been studied quite extensively by researchers as their characteristics change due to EDC exposure, especially estrogens. It is known that estradiol and ethinylestradiol when exposed to male fish induce the biosynthesis of vitellogenin (a protein found in vertebrates). Maturing female fish have high levels of vitellogenin in their blood while males have low levels. When waters become contaminated with estrogens, male or juvenile fish attain high levels of this protein, thus making them useful biomarkers for contamination in our water supply. What we witness as undesirable effects of these EDCs on fish, should cause us great concern, as similar effects can occur in humans. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) conducted studies recently of 139 rivers and streams in the USA, finding estrogen-like contaminants in our nation’s water supply. Oftentimes this water supply is being recycled, making its way from water treatment plants of one town to another’s municipal water drinking system. The charcoal filters required to screen these substances out are often not available to smaller municipalities and thus exposure occurs. Possibly of even greater risk are seen in those rural homeowners who use well water. Without proper filtration and purification run off from agriculture pesticides may make this group at increased risk to EDCs. It is quite clear that our wastewater/ sewage treatment plants are unable to keep many of these potentially harmful compounds out of our drinking water. So sources of drinking water should be chosen very carefully. There are a few ways we can reduce environmental estrogens: -Use alternative forms of contraception instead of birth control pills; -Choose natural (herbal) menopause remedies instead of prescription synthetic hormones when applicable; -Return old prescriptions to the pharmacy rather than flushing them down the toilet; -Avoid herbicides and pesticides around the house; -Petition the government to tighten up environmental protection laws that include reducing environmental EDCs, to protect our drinking water and ultimately our (and our children’s) health. © 2004 JP Saleeby, MD is medical director of SLI. He treats patient for environmental exposures. Dr. Saleeby may be reached for comment at jpsaleeby@aol.com. |
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