Endocrine disruptors is the given name for a group of chemicals that, at certain doses, can interfere with the hormone system within mammals as well as fish and amphibians. They can be naturally occurring chemicals e.g. Arsenic, or manmade chemicals e.g. hormonally active substances excreted by humans using certain pharmaceutical products, as well as a number of chemicals derived from everyday cosmetics, plastics and personal care products. These disruptors can lead to a variety of debilating effects including birth defects, developmental disorders and cancerous tumours. The disruptors can affect any hormonal system within the body. Recent tests carried out on Irish drinking water has confirmed the presence of trace compounds of pharmaceutically
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Below I will write about three of these methods and briefly explain how each method tests for the presence of EDC’s and their degree of feasibility.
Whole organism assay: This method is used to measure the physical effects of the disruptors on various wildlife such as amphibians, fish, birds and insects. Presence is determined by noting any deformities, reproductive deficiencies and/or developmental response in offspring that would normally result after exposure to the Endocrine disruptors. While this method is good at noting the effects of the EDC’S on the organism, it remains ambiguous as it does not specify the cause nor source of the EDC’S. (H.S Changa et.al 2009),
Cellular bioassay: This method involves measuring the response proteins formed due to the interaction of EDC’S and estrogen receptors within the cell. Although the method is successful in being able to measure the direct effects within one cell of the organism, it fails in pinpointing the specific EDC you’re dealing with, particularly in samples containing multiple EDC’S. (H.S Changa et.al …show more content…
When testing for EDC’S within a cell there is a degree of error that could arise from the interaction of the EDC’S with any one of the numerous cell functions or even from the interaction with the various cell structures. A non-cellular assay is a good way to circumnavigate any of these errors that could arise from testing a cell. There has been biosensors developed to preform Non-cellular assays. One such sensor, called The Endotect, uses “a human estrogen receptor connected to a fluorescent molecule” (H.S Changa et.al 2009), in such a manner that any fluorescence generated from interaction between the EDC’S and the receptor can be measured. The biosensors are portable and generally faster than the other methods at detecting the EDC’S. One of the drawbacks though is that the sensors generally measure estrogenic EDCs and more research will be needed to develop sensors that can test for a larger variety of EDC’S. (H.S Changa et.al
Below I will write about three of these methods and briefly explain how each method tests for the presence of EDC’s and their degree of feasibility.
Whole organism assay: This method is used to measure the physical effects of the disruptors on various wildlife such as amphibians, fish, birds and insects. Presence is determined by noting any deformities, reproductive deficiencies and/or developmental response in offspring that would normally result after exposure to the Endocrine disruptors. While this method is good at noting the effects of the EDC’S on the organism, it remains ambiguous as it does not specify the cause nor source of the EDC’S. (H.S Changa et.al 2009),
Cellular bioassay: This method involves measuring the response proteins formed due to the interaction of EDC’S and estrogen receptors within the cell. Although the method is successful in being able to measure the direct effects within one cell of the organism, it fails in pinpointing the specific EDC you’re dealing with, particularly in samples containing multiple EDC’S. (H.S Changa et.al …show more content…
When testing for EDC’S within a cell there is a degree of error that could arise from the interaction of the EDC’S with any one of the numerous cell functions or even from the interaction with the various cell structures. A non-cellular assay is a good way to circumnavigate any of these errors that could arise from testing a cell. There has been biosensors developed to preform Non-cellular assays. One such sensor, called The Endotect, uses “a human estrogen receptor connected to a fluorescent molecule” (H.S Changa et.al 2009), in such a manner that any fluorescence generated from interaction between the EDC’S and the receptor can be measured. The biosensors are portable and generally faster than the other methods at detecting the EDC’S. One of the drawbacks though is that the sensors generally measure estrogenic EDCs and more research will be needed to develop sensors that can test for a larger variety of EDC’S. (H.S Changa et.al