BISC 313 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Apopka, Florida, Lake Apopka, Endocrine Disruptor

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Department of Humanities Biological Sciences
• Course: BISC 313
• Professor: Vicki Marlatt

Document Summary

Lecture 12 intro to endocrine disrupting substances. What is endocrine disruption: endocrinology basics, endocrine disrupters. Endocrine disrupting substances: overview of primary substances of concern, canadian regulatory efforts and global situation. Endocrine disrupting substances of concern: case studies. Lake apopka, florida: tower chemical co. spilled ddt and other contaminants in 1980, declared a superfund site in 1983, ddt and ocps present at high concentrations in the surrounding muck farms. Decline of alligators between 1980-1987: developmental abnormalities of the gonads, abnormal sex hormone concentrations, eggs and embryonic abnormalities. 3 lines of evidence fuel concerns over endocrine disruptors: increase trends of many endocrine-related disorders in humans, observations of endocrine-related effects in wildlife populations, lab studies linking chemicals with endocrine effects to disease outcomes. 800 chemicals known/suspected endocrine disrupters: most chemicals in commercial use not tested -> continue testing to id eds -> reduced exposure. Metabolism and growth endocrine processes: digestive, pancreatic. Eds definition introduced into canadian regulations in 1999.