BIOL 4673 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Teratology, Incineration, Acne Vulgaris

• School: Acadia University
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOL 4673
• Professor: Alexandre G R O S J E A N

Document Summary

Lecture 4 : chemical hazards and human health. Toxicology data mostly from animal studies, not much from human exposure. Different glands in human body, endocrine glands produce hormones, important for regulation of many functions. Chemicals have similarities with hormones in our body; mimicking hormones. Changes in the level of produced proteins. Can interfere with gene expression, gene important for production in proteins. Protein synthesis can get disrupted as well: indirect effects. Fetus more sensitive than adults, adults may not be impacted while child is impacted. Synthetic estrogen used by physicians to prevent spontaneous abortions (1948-1971) Administered for early pregnancy until 35 weeks. >1 million women took it between 1960-1970. Daughters whose mothers took des have increased incidents of : reproductive organ dysfunction, abnormal pregnancies, reduction in fertility immune system disorders, carcinoma. Feminization of males (observed due to exposure to ddt, agricultural pesticide, rooster started to act different than normal, frogs may change gender)