Environmental Oestrogens

Currently, there has been much concern about possible adverse consequences arising out of the release of some chemicals into the environment with oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic properties. This concern has been directed at both human health effects and effects on wildlife includes cancer development and altered reproductive functions.Bisphenol-A and Octylphenol are weak man- made oestrogenic chemicals found in our environment. It was confirmed that the exposure of BPA and OP adversely affected the pregnancy by inhibiting conception and it may therefore affect the development in both wildlife and humans. Reduced litter size, presence of stillborn pups and unwanted reproductive health hazards in the offspring of BPA and OP exposed mothers, are the possible indication of adverse reproductive and developmental effects on the wildlife population as well as humans. The findings of the present study also firmly indicated the nature of bioaccumulative effects of these chemicals in animals. Reduction in the sperm concentration clearly indicates the adverse reproductive trends in male health and in wildlife population as well as humans.