Search -
Hormonal Chaos : The Scientific and Social Origins of the Environmental Endocrine Hypothesis
Hormonal Chaos The Scientific and Social Origins of the Environmental Endocrine Hypothesis Author:Sheldon Krimsky The chemicals that have ushered in the modern industrial age are literally everywhere -- in pesticides applied in ever-increasing quantities to food crops, in plastic microwavable containers, in dental amalgams, in the resins that coat the insides of tin cans. For decades, such substances have generally been regarded as safe at low exposur... more »es. But new evidence suggests that relatively low levels of industrial chemicals may mimic or obstruct hormonal activity -- with potentially devastating long-term effects that range from cancer and reproductive abnormalities to cognitive dysfunctions like Attention Deficit Disorder. Given both the seriousness and the uncertainty of the findings, how should the science of chemical toxicology be revised to account for those endocrine effects? And how should the scientific debate affect public policy?
In Hormonal Chaos, Sheldon Krimsky traces the emergence of an unorthodox hypothesis that casts new suspicions on a broad range of modern industrial chemicals. At the heart of his story is the environmental endocrine hypothesis, the assertion that a class of chemicals called "endocrine disruptors" are interfering with the normal functioning of hormones in animals and humans. The hypothesis is both attractive and troubling -- attractive because it offers a unified explanation for a wide array of ills affecting modern societies; troubling because of its staggering implications for the effects of modern industrial practices.
Hormonal Chaos tells the story of how a small group of scientists has advanced this revolutionary hypothesis, linking certain types of synthetic chemicals to over a dozen human and animal abnormalities. Krimsky describes how the hypothesis was first elaborated and explores the complex factors that have contributed to its increased legitimacy and controversy. His account combines a historical narrative, a careful analysis of scientific issues, and a case study for how scientific hypotheses originate, achieve legitimacy, influence policy, and affect public consciousness. He also addresses the resulting dilemma for governments: In light of a compelling, but much disputed new theory, how do policymakers act to ensure public safety?« less