What do landfills, farm runoff, harbors, runoff from municipal and industrial sources and pulp mills have in common? The answer is that they all produce substances that have been linked to harming the endocrine system. In the scientific community, these chemicals are referred to as endocrine disrupters. There has been a fair amount of talk and focus on the issue of endocrine disrupters over the last ten years.

The endocrine system consists of glands throughout your body that do not have ducts and other similar structures. They include the ovaries, testes, thyroid, parathyroid, and pituitary glands. Cells located in the gastro-intestinal tract are also regarded as a part of the endocrine system.

Endocrine glands secrete hormones contrasted with what other glands secrete such as sweat, tears and other fluids. So endocrine glands are distinguished at least largely by the fact that they secrete hormones. Hormones are little chemical messengers. They travel through your body to certain organs upon which they trigger desired biological effects. They maintain a chemical balance.

Because hormones trigger certain life sustaining requirements, the endocrine system is vital to our survival. The endocrine system is largely responsible for growth, reproduction, storage of energy, balance and reaction to stimuli such as fright and agitation.

Certain substances, naturally occurring and manmade, may adversely affect the endocrine system. Some chemicals in plants have.estrogen-like effects and certain drugs and pollutants can block the actions of some hormones. Since most animals including fish, reptiles, birds and even insects and lobsters have an endocrine system, the effects of pollution on the system can be very wide spread.

Synthetic chemicals that are suspected as being endocrine disrupters can reach humans in several ways. Pesticides are intentionally released onto our lawns and in our farms. New neighborhoods with beautiful, densely manicured lawns may pose a risk to the endocrine system.

Byproducts from the industrial processes in waste disposal including dioxins, PCB's may also be linked to endocrine disrupter problems. Many of us are affected by industrial waste in that this waste is often channeled through waters that we ultimately drink or into the air that we ultimately breathe.

And waste that is flushed through our sinks and toilets finds its way into municipal waste water treatment systems and then ultimately bodies of water that we may ultimately consume or that may feed other species for which endocrine disruption is possible.

According to published data, the exact relationship between human disease and effects on the endocrine system is still not well understood. But this issue is on the radar screen of health care officials and is recognized as a threat that may be linked to a variety of illnesses.

The EPA now has an endocrine disrupter screening program. This program focuses on methods to detect endocrine activity in pesticides, commercial chemicals and environmental contamination.

And endocrine disrupters are now screened from drinking water supplies, at least to the extent practical. Thus the EPA understands that this is an issue, though at this time it does not appear to fully understand the issue.

Pesticides always seems to be included in lists of possible endocrine disrupters. It seems that the more we learn about pesticides, whatever the context, the worse pesticides appear to be.

Of course we need some pesticides. But let's watch over use -especially in these residential settings. The news on pesticides, it seems to me, just keeps getting worse and worse.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.