The Endocrine System:

Illustration by K. Born in Our Stolen Future
(1996)
by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski and JP Myers
The
use of high doses increases the likelihood that potentially
significant toxic effects will be identified. Findings of
adverse effects in any one species do not necessarily indicate
such effects might be generated in humans. From a conservative
risk assessment perspective however, adverse findings in
animal species are assumed to represent potential effects
in humans, unless convincing evidence of species specificity
is available.
--
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
|
Note:
This is not an exhaustive list.
When time allows more information will be added.
Flonicamid
- Insecticide - CAS No. 158062-67-0
-- In the multi-generation
rat reproduction study, the NOAEL was 300 ppm for both parental
animals (13.5-32.8 and 16.3-67.0 mg/kg/day, respectively, for
males and females) and their offspring. The effects at the highest
dose of 1,800 ppm included the following: increased
kidney weights and gross and histopathological alterations in
the kidney. Findings noted in the top dose females included
delayed vaginal opening and increased
liver, kidney and spleen weights in the F1 generation and reduced
ovary and adrenal weights in the parental generation and decreased
uterine weights in the F1 female weanlings. There was an increase
in the FSH and LH levels in F1 females tested for these endpoints.
These findings did not affect the reproductive performance or
survival of offspring in the study.
-- Endocrine disruption. No special
studies investigating potential estrogenic or other endocrine
effects of flonicamid have been conducted. Some suggestions of
possible endocrine effects were reported at the highest dose tested
(1,800 ppm) in the multi-generation reproduction study which showed
increased FSH and LH levels, a delay in the time to
vaginal opening in the F1 generation, and reduced ovary
and adrenal weights in the parental generation. However, there
were no effects on reproductive performance or survival of the
offspring in the study. At levels that are expected to be found
in the environment, flonicamid will not cause any endocrine-related
effects.
Ref:
Federal Register: May 23, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 100)] [Notices]
[Page 28218-28222]. Flonicamid; Notice of Filing a Pesticide Petition
to Establish a Tolerance for a Certain Pesticide Chemical in or
on Food.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/Flonicamid.FR.May23.2003.htm
Haloxyfop-etotyl
- Herbicide - CAS No. 87237-48-7
Reproductive Effects:
In rats, oral doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg/day of haloxyfop-ethoxyethyl
from days 6 to 16 of pregnancy reduced the number of live offspring
per litter and caused vaginal bleeding
in the mother (5). Teratogenic Effects: Oral doses of 50 mg/kg/day
of haloxyfop-ethoxyethyl in rats between days 6 and 16 of pregnancy
caused developmental abnormalities in the offspring's urogenital
system and death to the fetus (5). Oral doses of 7.5 mg/kg/day
of haloxyfop-methyl given to rats from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy
caused delayed bone formation in the offspring (6).
Ref: EXTOXNET Pesticide Information Profile
http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/haloxyfop-methylparathion/haloxyfop-ext.html
Sodium
fluoride
- Wood preservative, US EPA List 4B Inert
- CAS No. 7681-49-4
Abstract: The purpose was to discover whether fluoride (F) accumulates
in the pineal gland and thereby affects pineal physiology during
early development. The [F] of 11 aged human pineals and corresponding
muscle were determined using the F-electrode following HMDS/acid
diffusion. The mean [F] of pineal was significantly higher (p<0.001)
than muscle: 296 ± 257 vs. 0.5 ± 0.4 mg/kg
respectively. Secondly, a controlled longitudinal experimental
study was carried out to discover whether F affects the biosynthesis
of melatonin, (MT), during pubertal development using the excretion
rate of urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin, (aMT6s), as the index of
pineal MT synthesis. Urine was collected at 3-hourly intervals
over 48 hours from two groups of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus),
low-F (LF) and high-F (HF) (12 f, 12 m/group): under LD: 12 12,
from prepubescence to reproductive maturity (at 9-12 weeks) to
adulthood, i.e., at 7, 9, 11 1/2 and 16 weeks. The HF pups received
2.3 ug F/g BW/day from birth until 24 days whereafter HF and LF
groups received food containing 37 and 7 mg F/kg respectively
and distilled water. Urinary aMT6s levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.
The HF group excreted significantly less aMT6s than the F group
until the age of sexual maturation. At 11 1/2 weeks, the circadian
profile of aMT6s by the HF males was significantly dimished but,
by 16 weeks, was equivalent to the LF males. In conclusion, F
inhibits pineal MT synthesis in gerbils up until the time of sexual
maturation. Finally, F
was associated with a significant acceleration of pubertal development
in female gerbils using body weights, age of vaginal opening
and accelerated development of the ventral gland. At
16 weeks, the mean testes weight of HF males was significantly
less (p<0.002) than that of the LF males. The results suggest
that F is associated with low circulating levels of MT and this
leads to an accelerated sexual maturation in female gerbils. The
results strengthen the hypothesis that the pineal has a role in
pubertal development.
Ref: The effect of fluoride on
the physiology of the pinal gland; by
Jennifer Anne Luke.
A dissertation submitted to the School of Biological Sciences,
University of Surrey, in fulfilment of the requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Guildford 1997.
Reproduction and fertility
effects (rat) Nonguideline - [870.3800] Parental/Systemic NOAEL
= 20 mg/kg/day LOAEL = 51 mg/kg/ day (F1 females) based on decrease
in pre-mating body weight gain (10%) Offspring and Reproductive
NOAEL = 16 mg/kg/ day LOAEL = 40 mg/kg/ day based on reduced gestation
day 20 fetal weights; decreased postnatal day 0, 4 and 7 pup weights;
decreased pup survival; delayed vaginal
patency; reduced epididymal, prostate, and testicular weights
Additional information supports the conclusions reached in the
2- generation reproduction study in rats
Ref:
Federal Register: September 24, 2003. Sulfentrazone; Pesticide
Tolerances. Final Rule.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/sulfentrazone.fr.sept24.03.htm
Tetraconazole
-Fungicide - CAS No. 112281-77-3
-- Reproductive toxicity
study-- Rats. In the 2-generation reproductive toxicity study
in rats, the maternal (systemic) NOAEL was 0.7 mg/kg/day, based
on dystocia, delayed vaginal opening,
and increased liver weight at the
LOAEL of 5.9 mg/kg/day. The developmental (pup) NOAEL was 0.7
mg/kg/day, based on increased time to observation of
balanopreputial skin fold
[foreskin] and liver weight
at the LOAEL of 5.9 mg/ kg/day. At the high dose of 35.5 mg/kg/day,
there was a decrease in the mean number of live pups per litter
on lactation days 0 and 4 (precull) in the presence of significant
maternal toxicity.
Ref: Federal Register: December 6, 1999.
Tetraconazole; Pesticide Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions.
Final Rule. http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/Tetraconazole.FR.Dec.1999.htm
Reproduction Study Rats received
0, 10, 70 or 490 ppm of tetraconazole in the diet for two generations.
Offspring at 70 and 490 ppm had a slight
retardation of growth and sexual maturation
(delayed vaginal opening and balanopreputial
cleavage). Increased liver weights were seen in
F1 and F2 pups at 490 ppm as well as female pups at 70 ppm at
weaning. No external and internal abnormalities were found
for both F1 and F2 pups. The NOEL was 10 ppm (0.4 mg/kg bw/day)
for reproduction and postnatal toxicity. (page 5-6)
Ref: August
2005 - Evaluation of Tetraconazole in the product Domark 40ME
Fungicide. Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
http://www.fluorideaction.org/pesticides/tetraconazole.2005.report.australia.pdf
•
Note from EC:
"Dystocia. Literally, it means
difficult labor and practically means abnormally slow progress
of labor. The word comes from the Greek 'dys' meaning 'difficult,
painful, disordered, abnormal' and 'tokos' meaning 'birth'.
Four potential factors may cause difficult labor characterized
by abnormally slow progress. They may occur separately or together.
1) Uterine contractions may be either too weak or too uncoordinated
to open up the cervix. There may also be inadequate pushing
with voluntary muscles during the second stage of labor.
2) The baby may be lined up wrong to easily pass through the
birth canal. Alternatively, there may be other problems with
the baby that also retard passage of the baby through the birth
canal.
3) The maternal bony pelvis may be too narrow to allow the baby
to pass through the birth canal.
4) Abnormalities of the birth canal other than those of the
bony pelvis may obstruct fetal descent. The
most common cause of dystocia is a small bony pelvis and/or
insufficiently strong and coordinated
uterine contractions.
[drnathan/sitedex.htm]."
-- Balanopreputial
skin fold- see:
http://www.cirp.org/library/history/hodges1/
Triflumizole
- Fungicide - CAS No. 68694-11-1
-- In a 3-generation
rat reproduction study, dose levels of 0, 70, 170 and 420 ppm
in feed resulted in a NOEL greater than 70 ppm (LDT) based on
increased gestation length. At 170 ppm there
was pup mortality. At 420 ppm, there was reduced body weight gain,
increased length of estrous cycles, reduced
vaginal cornification, extended gestation
length and high pup mortality.
Ref: EPA Pesticide Fact Sheet September
1991. Triflumizole (Terraguard, Procure).
http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/fung-nemat/tcmtb-ziram/triflumizole/fung-prof-triflumizole.html
|