Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

The endocrine system regulates the release of specific hormones essential for body homeostasis. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are synthetic chemicals that have the potential to mimic or block effects of natural occurring hormones. In the natural world, EDCs are considered environmental pollutants. At the time of design, synthetic chemicals were thought to provide various societal benefits from industrialized pesticides and common household products like cleaners and cosmetics. Today history has shown us some damaging effects they can have on human health, such as hypospadias, uterine fibroids, and infertility. Current research is finding associations with EDCs and thyroid and Parkinson’s diseases; Nebraska, an agricultural state with heavy pesticide use, has one of the highest prevalence of Parkinson’s disease. Studying the effects of EDCs on human health is quite challenging due to ethical considerations of exposing humans to scientific investigations, thus we chose to study birds. As terrestrial vertebrates, birds and humans share the same environments and are exposed to the same environmental pollutants. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate the effects that EDCs have on singing behavior, a vital behavioral and reproductive function, of male Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) along a gradient of chemically polluted and non-polluted areas in Nebraska. Our preliminary findings indicate a significant change in bird song in the chemically polluted areas relative to non-polluted ones. Nurses and other healthcare providers are in positions to educate their patients on strategies to promote health and reduce the prevalence of diseases associated with environments infiltrated with synthetic chemicals.

Biography

Email: michelle.johnson@bryanhealthcollege.edu