Hormone disruption
may not be new, but the incidence we now see is new and the extent is
so great that we must consider it a 20th century epidemic. The age of
puberty (menarche) is dropping, PMS afflicts at least 30% of pre-menopausal
women, breast cancer incidence is not only rising but also its onset
is earlier than ever before. Infertility and early miscarriages due
to luteal phase failure are common, and sperm production in men is falling.
Hysterectomy for heavy, irregular periods is performed on over 550,000
U.S. women annually. The signs that something has gone wrong with our
hormones are all around us. Humans are not the only victims. We know
that certain wildlife populations are dying out due to procreation problems
secondary to petrochemical exposure. Evidence is mounting daily that
hormone disruption due to the petrochemical menace (xenobiotics) is
a major factor in a wide variety of illnesses affecting many animal
special, including humans.
Worse yet is the obvious fact that our old paradigm of
casual estrogen replacement, and the use of synthetic progestins and
birth control pills, is not the answer. We have for too long ignored
the concept of hormone balance. Fortunately, a new, more successful
paradigm is emerging from research in cancer etiology, the new understanding
of hormone binding proteins, hormone receptor sensitivity, gene modulation,
specific nutrients, and the importance of heterogeneity. A specific
hormone's effect is not simply the result of its presence but is the
result of a dynamic relationship to stress, genetics, nutrition, and
complex interaction with other hormones such as all the sec steroids,
adrenal steroids, thyroid, and insulin, to name but a few.
Any new paradigm emerges as a result of the leadership
of those who dare to explore new concepts and who have the insight to
synthesize the information. In this regard, a few lead the way. Not
only do they "see" problems and solutions better than most of us, but
also they have the ability to communicate their vision of biochemical
concepts and treatment options with extraordinary clarity. This new
book by Lindsey Berkson complements the evidence compiled by Theo Colborn
and the authors of Our Stolen Future and extends it into
the realm of human medicine. Petrochemical hormone disruptors pervade
our human environment. To ignore them is to invite disaster. Hormone
Deception is an important step in helping us understand
them, and, hopefully, to eventually solve the problem they present.