Dioxins and Endometriosis

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Table of Contents

Introduction        3

Environmental Factors        3

Dioxin Exposure and Endometriosis        6

Conclusion        8

References        8

Introduction

An amount of dioxin the size of a fist is toxic enough to kill everyone on earth. So it isn't surprising that the minuscule amounts of this environmental contaminant we regularly eat, drink, and breathe are hazardous to our health. Over the past few decades, dioxin has been recognized as a cause of birth defects, liver diseases, and a variety of cancers. Now new research suggests that it might also be linked to endometriosis, a disease that can cause severe, chronic pain and infertility in women.

Endometriosis is a disease of the endocrine and immune systems in which tissue similar to the endometrial tissue of the uterus occurs abnormally in other areas of the abdomen (Ballweg, 2004). In the general population, endometriosis is thought to occur in 7–10% of women (Wheeler, 1992), but random biopsies at laparoscopic sterilizations have revealed evidence of endometriosis in approximately 25% of women (Wardle and Hull, 1993).  Endometriosis has a significant social and psychological impact on the lives of women around the world.

This report has been commissioned by Miss Kelly Callaghan, whom has requested information regarding the role dioxins play in endometriosis. This report will begin by discussing the environmental factors of dioxins and their relationship to endometriosis before moving on to discuss the impacts of dioxin exposure and endometriosis.

Environmental Factors

On a daily basis, humans and animals (e.g. Monkeys) are subjected to environmental pollutants that have the potential to adversely affect the physiological processes of the creature and even cause disease. These pollutants are relentless and can accumulate within the environment, as well as internally in living organisms which can cause gestational problems in both adults and children. In recent research efforts, The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a group formed to protect public health and the environment, recently discovered that the human umbilical cord contains 287 different chemical agents. Interestingly, the research that was conducted by EWG showed that whilst the human fetuses were not exposed to all 287 chemicals, every fetus was exposed to at least 1 pollutant. Although the specific or combination effect of these numerous agents on the process or disease development in specific organs cannot be easily determined, there is a known link between the exposure to chemical agents and problems with neoplasm development, neuropsychomotor and reproductive system changes, as well as immunological disorders.