EPIDEMIOLOGY Adipose tissue concentrations of PCB, HCB, Chlordane, PBDE and P,P ́-DDE and the risk for endometrial cancer

Environmental pollutants with hormonal activity, such as xenoestrogens, have for several years been of concern as potential risk factors for hormone dependant tumors. Impacts of increasing levels of xenoestrogens have been observed in aquatic organisms. In humans concern has been focused on ”endocrine disrupting chemicals” with either estrogenic or antiestrogenic activities. Some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and especially the hydroxylated metabolites, and chlordanes, have been postulated to be endocrine disruptors. 4 PCBs have been shown to reverse gonadal sex in turtle and abnormalities of reproductive development has been described in juvenile alligators living in contaminated environment in Florida. 7 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) has been shown to have endocrine-disrupting properties. Also p,p’-dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (p,p’-DDE) the most persistent metabolite of p,p ́-DDT has been postulated to be an environmental endocrine disruptor.