Estrogenic chemicals may occur normally in nature and may be found in plants and in one's diet. It is important to understand the effects of these compounds because they may persist in the body for prolonged periods of time.
Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body's endocrine system.
Environmental chemicals may alter the function of the endocrine system by mimicking hormone actions and either triggering or blocking a response to the body's natural hormones. The body's natural hormonal balance is necessary to maintain normal body activity. Estrogen and other hormones cause their effects by binding to receptor molecules in cell tissues like the breast, uterus, prostate, brain, and skin. Then, the receptor acts as the translator of the hormone, in this case estrogen, in the cell. Much more information is needed to understand the adverse effects of these compounds.