ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Endocrine disrupting chemicals can have numerous ecological effects on wildlife, including declining population sizes, alteration of the sex ratios, decreased fertility rates, and increased disorders, which all interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in ecosystems. In orcas, otherwise known as the killer whale, scientists have shown that these specific chemicals are correlated to reducing their ability to reproduce. Endocrine disrupting chemicals can be detected in freshwater and drinking water, which can lead to undesirable outcomes even when at low concentrations, showcasing how dangerous these compounds can be in the environment.