9MM Gil piAfi1 Endocrine Effects of Prenatal Exposure to PCBs, Dioxins, and Other Xenobiotics: Implications for

Recent findings have raised the level of concern that chemicals in the environment can interfere with the endocrine systems of both people and wildlife. It has been reported that in men, sperm counts have decreased over the last 50 years (1). There appears to be an increase in cryptorchidism (undescended testicles), testicular cancer, and hypospadias (abnormal urethral opening) (2). Young girls are reaching puberty earlier, the incidence of endometriosis is increasing (3), and the age of onset of endometriosis may be decreasing. Breast cancer incidence has increased approximately 1 % per year over the past 50 years