How TBT Is Affecting The Human Body
Mike Skinner is a researcher from Washington State University. He investigates chemicals, like DDT and mixture of BPA and phthalates, which can cause obesity and reproductive biological problems5. Leonardo Trasande from New York University Medical School studies levels of BPA in urine, the BMI of children and its relation to obesity. University of California, Irvine researcher Bruce Blumberg studies obesogens, endocrine disruptors and TBT effects on hormone receptors3. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals, when absorbed in the body either mimic or block hormones, disrupting the body’s normal functions. It includes DES, dioxin, PCBs, and other pesticides2. Rob Sargis studies effects of endrin, tolylfluanid and BPA on the glucorticoid pathway7. With increasing obesity rates, many scientists believe chemical exposures that mess with hormonal pathways make the human body more susceptible to obesity2.
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DNA methylation is a signaling tool used to regulate gene expression within eukaryotes1.
DDT is a pesticide used in the U.S. before its ban due to its impact on bird populations and concerns with human health. TBT is a chemical used in marine paints to prevent organisms from growing on hulls of ships4, 6. In a successful study, Blumberg tested TBT effects on nuclear hormone receptors in-vitro, which activated the fatty acid receptor called PPARy4. He showed TBT spurs adipocyte precursors to differentiate in fat. TBT exposed frogs developed fat deposits around gonads. TBT exposed mice in utero, bone marrow, and stem cells have greater fat
cells.
The dogma of weight regulation is believed to be an energy imbalance: calories in or calories out. While food and exercise is crucial to body weight, chemicals linking fat gain can also affect obesity. Current policies will not change as regulators have little clinical data and uncertainties about compounds affecting humans to determine acceptable exposure levels for obesogens. As more clinical data becomes present, then policies will be able to change.
DNA methylation is a signaling tool used to regulate gene expression within eukaryotes1.
DDT is a pesticide used in the U.S. before its ban due to its impact on bird populations and concerns with human health. TBT is a chemical used in marine paints to prevent organisms from growing on hulls of ships4, 6. In a successful study, Blumberg tested TBT effects on nuclear hormone receptors in-vitro, which activated the fatty acid receptor called PPARy4. He showed TBT spurs adipocyte precursors to differentiate in fat. TBT exposed frogs developed fat deposits around gonads. TBT exposed mice in utero, bone marrow, and stem cells have greater fat
cells.
The dogma of weight regulation is believed to be an energy imbalance: calories in or calories out. While food and exercise is crucial to body weight, chemicals linking fat gain can also affect obesity. Current policies will not change as regulators have little clinical data and uncertainties about compounds affecting humans to determine acceptable exposure levels for obesogens. As more clinical data becomes present, then policies will be able to change.