Slide Set 11 - Reproduction and Development Flashcards
Because of what 4 reasons should we care about reproduction?
- having a family
- preventing pregnancy
- preserving fertility
- preventing birth defects and diseases
The number of chemicals registered for commercial use now stands at _________ – a ___% increase since 1979.
80,000
30%
Through what products are we exposed to the chemicals registered for chemical use on a day to day basis?
- industrial releases
- contaminated food
- household products
- cosmetics
- food containers
- toys
- workplace
What are 3 results of this rise in exposure to chemicals?
- increase infertility rates
- decreased sperm counts
- higher rates of birth defects
Sperm counts among western men have ______ over the past 40 years.
halved
What 2 chemicals are commonly found in toys, food containers, and many other consumer products?
- phthalates
2. BPA
What chemical is used as a flame retardant in household furniture and electronics? What system do flame retardants disrupt in our body?
PBED
Endocrine system
The number of boys born with penis abnormalities and genital defects has increased by ____ in the past 2 decades.
200%
Boys have a higher incidence of what 5 syndromes?
- ADHD
- learning disabilities
- Tourett’s syndrome
- cerebral palsy
- dyslexia
boys are ___ times as likely to be autistic.
4
The quality of sperm is declining. ____% of the sperm produced by a healthy man is ___ damaged.
80%
DNA damaged
Damaged sperm have been linked to a ____% increase in testicular cancer.
300%
The chemical industry has developed more than 90,000 man-made chemicals in the last 6 years. 85% of them have never undergone testing for their impact on the human body
–
In what area of the world has the gender ratio skewed towards girls? What are these trends linked to?
Northern hemisphere (north of Arctic circle, Japan, USA)
Disruption in endocrine system due to chemicals
What are organochlorines? 3 types
synthetic organic compounds with chlorinated aromatic molecules
- Industrial compounds (PCBs)
- Combustion Products
- Pesticides (DDT)
Despite worldwide treaty to ban or restrict use of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), there has been a continued use of DDT to combat _______ in certain countries.
malaria
What are 3 characteristic of organochlorines?
- liposoluble
- bioaccumulate
- biomagnify
In what 4 ways do organochlorines disrupt the endocrine system? Give examples for each
- estrogen receptor agonists (PCBs, DDTs, and other insecticides)
- Bind androgen receptors/prevent androgen synthesis (DDE)
- Bind the aryl hydrocarbon receptor - modulate estrogen-dependent transcription (dioxins, PCBs)
- Bind thyroid hormone binding protein (hydroxylated aromatics)
________ ecosystems contain unusually high levels of environmental contaminants
northern
Organochlorines __________ in the arctic food chain
bioaccumulate (fatty fish, marine mammals, polar bears, birds, etc)
Inuit (Indigenous people of norther CAD) consume ___ times more PCBs than the general public.
40
Where in the body of Inuit mothers are there elevated amounts of organochlorines?
blood and breast milk (4.2 ng/mL)
How can maternal consumption of PCB-contaminated fish during pregnancy affect the baby?
- retarded gestational development
- low birth weights
- small head circumference
- neurodevelopment delays
- weaker immune system
Structure of the uterus:
What are its 2 main parts?
Pear-shaped
the crevix and the body