Therefore, these environmental endocrine disruptors can accumulate at a higher level in each succeeding generation. It throws that hormone out of balance with others resulting in a change of function or sometimes a health problem. Other contaminants block binding sites so that hormones are unable to bind thus creating abnormal cell activity. Some contaminants induce the creation of extra cell receptor sites. The consequence can be a magnification of the impact of the hormones on cell activity.
Contaminants can interact with natural hormones thus altering cell activity.
The natural pattern of hormone synthesis can be disrupted resulting in an improper balance or quantity of circulating hormones. Generally, the offspring of exposed adults are the most vulnerable. Thus, each generation may have more problems. At the early stages of life, protective systems are not fully developed and exposure to estrogenic chemicals in an embryonic, or fetal stage can lead to development of major structural changes in the genital tract. This also includes tumors and abnormal cell growth as well as deformed, shortened or modified genitals.