Endocrine disruptors are environmental chemicals that may have an adverse effect on human and ecological health by disrupting normal hormonal systems. They may accomplish this by mimicking natural hormones, inhibiting the action of natural hormones, or by altering the normal regulatory function of hormonal systems.
Hormones are chemicals made by the body that regulate bodily functions, development and growth.
Small amounts of hormones are released by glands into the blood stream and then travel to distant target tissues. In these target tissues, the hormone binds to a receptor like a lock and key. The hormone is the key and the receptor act as the lock. Once the key turns the lock, a cascade of events occurs that results in the activation of important genes that instruct the cell to make protein signals to carry out specific tasks, for instance - telling the cell to divide. One example of a hormone is estrogen.