Total Estrogen and Its Impact on the Inhabitants of Our Environment

Posted on October 29th, 2014

It has been known for a long time that estrogen can cause a number of major health problems for humans and for animals.

Biologists have recognized this for several years, and are trying to stop the use of estrogen mimicking pesticides. They have seen the impact in the Florida Everglades, where pesticides like Round Up have caused estrogen problems, including some years, where all the alligators are females. Water and temperature has also been blamed, but with all the chemical insect repellents and inbreeding, it should make you question and wonder, at the same time.

This press release by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey reports the following:

Endocrine Disruption May Make Fish More Prone to Disease

Released: 9/8/2014
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

LEETOWN, W.Va. -- New USGS-led research suggests that fish exposed to estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals may have increased susceptibility to infectious disease.

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals can affect the reproductive system and cause the development of characteristics of the opposite sex, such as eggs in the testes of male fish. Wild- caught fish affected by endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been found in locations across the county. Estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals are derived from a variety of sources from natural estrogens to synthetic pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals that enter the waterways.

In this study, researchers discovered that cellular receptors for estrogen were present in cells of the channel catfish immune system, which alters the immune system response. These cellular receptors are similar to “on-off switches” that require a lock and key for activation. The study looked at channel catfish because of their well-researched leukocyte cell lines. Leukocytes are immune system cells involved in defending the body against infectious disease and foreign invaders.

Estrogens have been shown to modify immune system responses in mammals and a diverse group of ray-finned fishes that include tunas, halibut, herring and catfish. Most fish species are members of this group, called teleosts. Prior to this research few studies looked at how estrogen receptors in fish leukocytes function.

The study also marks the first time the dynamics of estrogen receptor gene behavior has been evaluated in activated immune cells. Immune cells are either activated or not, much like a dimmable light, there are degrees of activation. The researchers found that all cells of the immune system are not likely to be equally affected.

“We found that B-cells that produce antibodies, T-cells that regulate and coordinate immune responses and destroy virus-infected cells, and macrophages that gobble up invaders, have different arrays of estrogen receptors,” said lead author, USGS research biologist Luke Iwanowicz. “It is likely that these cells are instructed by estrogens differently.”

Iwanowicz noted that this work moves researchers one step closer to better understanding the consequences of exposure to estrogenic substances on the immune function in fish. “This new research not only means that endocrine disruptors may make fish more prone to disease, but it also provides the context and baseline data to enhance our ability to conduct similar work in wild-caught fishes and investigate relationships between disease in the aquatic environments and endocrine disruptors.”

Based on these findings, future research would explore age-related differences as well as seasonal differences in fish and estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure.

Knowing all of this, and with biologists worrying about this, why then is your veterinarian and your physician, also not worried about the estrogenic effects on you and your pet?

The medical profession says they are concerned with estrogen levels, however they are not measuring total estrogen! Why not?

I have included this article, published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, for your consideration, because this is just one more article to support the fact that total estrogen in humans and many mammals is not being considered and measured, except by the biologists.

The next time you or your pet has a major health problem, please make sure your veterinarian or physician does a total estrogen, and if they tell you a total estrogen has no value, please move on to another health care professional who understands the importance of testing for it.

For further information of the importance of total estrogen, please read the following articles on this website:

Sincerely,

Dr. Al Plechner