203
5.22 Endocrinology
Endocrinology is the specialty of medical science dealing with hormones and their
effect throughout the body. Hormones are organic substances secreted by living
organisms that regulate physiological activities as well as maintain homeostasis.
An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous agent that hinders with the production,
release, transport, binding, action, metabolism, or elimination of natural hormones
(U.S. EPA 1997). Endocrine disruptors include biochemically manufactured compounds such as plasticizers, industrial solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical agents (Eleni et al. 2011).
All hormone-sensitive physiological systems are vulnerable to endocrine disruptors, which include cardiovascular system; brain and hypothalamic neuroendocrine
systems; pituitary; mammary gland; thyroid; pancreas; adipose tissue; testes and
prostate in males; and ovary and uterus in females (Diamanti-Kandarakis et al. 2009).
5.23 Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the specialty of medical science dealing with demographics of
disease processes, and includes the study of epidemics. Since it was defined, several
new definitions of epidemiology evolved since 1978 (Frérot et al. 2018).
Epidemiology has made it possible to recognize risk factors related to the lifestyles
and environment.
Environmental epidemiology is the specialization of epidemiology that specifically deals with environmental exposure (Baker et al. 1999). An example of case
study related to Epidemiology is given in Box 5.10.
Since the evolvement of epidemiology mankind is able to use it in several epidemics including the emergence of COVID-19 disease in China at the end of 2019
that has caused a large global outbreak.
Box 5.10 Armadale Case Study
During 1968–1974, the mortality ratios for lung cancer were observed to be
high in Armadale, Scotland (Lawson and Fiona 1994; Lloyd et al. 1985). A
large group of cases was found in a residential area downwind from a foundry.
Studies revealed that region with high mortality ratios for respiratory as well
as non-respiratory cancer were due to air pollution by metals (Lloyd
et al. 1985).
5.23 Epidemiology
5.22 Endocrinology
Endocrinology is the specialty of medical science dealing with hormones and their
effect throughout the body. Hormones are organic substances secreted by living
organisms that regulate physiological activities as well as maintain homeostasis.
An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous agent that hinders with the production,
release, transport, binding, action, metabolism, or elimination of natural hormones
(U.S. EPA 1997). Endocrine disruptors include biochemically manufactured compounds such as plasticizers, industrial solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical agents (Eleni et al. 2011).
All hormone-sensitive physiological systems are vulnerable to endocrine disruptors, which include cardiovascular system; brain and hypothalamic neuroendocrine
systems; pituitary; mammary gland; thyroid; pancreas; adipose tissue; testes and
prostate in males; and ovary and uterus in females (Diamanti-Kandarakis et al. 2009).
5.23 Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the specialty of medical science dealing with demographics of
disease processes, and includes the study of epidemics. Since it was defined, several
new definitions of epidemiology evolved since 1978 (Frérot et al. 2018).
Epidemiology has made it possible to recognize risk factors related to the lifestyles
and environment.
Environmental epidemiology is the specialization of epidemiology that specifically deals with environmental exposure (Baker et al. 1999). An example of case
study related to Epidemiology is given in Box 5.10.
Since the evolvement of epidemiology mankind is able to use it in several epidemics including the emergence of COVID-19 disease in China at the end of 2019
that has caused a large global outbreak.
Box 5.10 Armadale Case Study
During 1968–1974, the mortality ratios for lung cancer were observed to be
high in Armadale, Scotland (Lawson and Fiona 1994; Lloyd et al. 1985). A
large group of cases was found in a residential area downwind from a foundry.
Studies revealed that region with high mortality ratios for respiratory as well
as non-respiratory cancer were due to air pollution by metals (Lloyd
et al. 1985).
5.23 Epidemiology