estrogen2-silver+class+'09


 * SLA Biochem**
 * 10th Grade Quarter 3 Benchmark**
 * By Morgan Craig-Williams**

toc =1. Abstract =

Our bodies produce natural estrogen, which is used to produce hormones and regulate our bodily functions. The there is artificial estrogen to produce artificial hormones and physiologic changes. Some transgender males use estrogen to help them promote female characteristics. Estrogen for women can help higher the chance of getting pregnant by releasing more eggs.

Artificial estrogen may cause damage to the reproductive system, nervous system, and bones, it may cause a defective reaction with the natural estrogen in your body and counteract the effects. With this being said some peoples immune system blocks the artificial estrogen and it is disposed of by the bowels, which empties in to the water. Some of the estrogen dissolves in the water system and is not fully cleaned out of the system.

Many people, after finish with or have no need for their medicine anymore, dispose of the estrogen mostly down the drain or toilet. Unaware of the fact that just because it was flushed means that it’s gone forever. These drugs often pass through conventional sewage treatment facilities, into waterways, lakes and even aquifers. Further, discarded pharmaceuticals often end up at dumps and land fills, posing a threat to underlying groundwater. So as a planet we have to come together and do the right thing.

=2. Background = -How/why we use this chemical** Estrogen is used to produce artificial hormones and physiologic changes. Our natural estrogen also balances out or natural hormones.
 * [[image:http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/arthritis-news/images/2008/post-menopause.gif align="left"]]

The estrogenic hormones are uniquely responsible for the growth and development of female sexual characteristics and reproduction in both humans and animals. The term "estrogen" includes a group of chemically similar hormones: estrone, estradiol (the most abundant) and estriol. Overall, estrogen is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat tissues. More specifically, the estradiol and estrone forms are produced in the ovaries, while the placenta produces estriol during pregnancy. In women, estrogen circulates in the bloodstream and binds to estrogen receptors on cells in targeted tissues, affecting the breast and uterus, but also the brain, bone, liver, heart and other tissues.
 * -What it does (positives)**

Everywhere for people who can buy it.
 * -Where it is used (what countries)**

For transgenders males it offers female characteristics and appearance. For women it raises the chance for a female to get pregnant by releasing hormones and telling the body to release more eggs. It also contributes to these: Promote formation of female secondary sex characteristics Decelerate height growth Accelerate metabolism Reduce muscle mass Stimulate endometrial growth Increase uterine growth Increase vaginal lubrication Thicken the vaginal wall Maintenance of vessel and skin Increase bone formation
 * -What benefits does this chemical offer these products?**

It is used everywhere, our bodies naturally produce it but it can be bought in pills of powder.
 * -Where in the world is it used?**

= = =3. Synthesis/Production = The placenta in the body makes natural estrogen for women.
 * -How is the chemical made/refined?**

Estrogen is commonly found in many different types of birth control pills that come in different brands.
 * -How are common products that contain this chemical made?**

Synthesis of estrogens starts in theca interna cells in the ovary, by the synthesis of androstenedione from cholesterol. Androstenedione is a substance of moderate androgenic activity. This compound crosses the basal membrane into the surrounding granulosa cells, where it is converted to estrone or estradiol, either immediately or through testosterone. The conversion of testosterone to estradiol, and of androstenedione to estrone is catalyzed by the enzyme aromatize.

= = =4. Human health implications = The possible dangers associated with estrogen are heart attack, breast cancer, cancer of the uterus, strokes, blood clots and decline in memory and thinking skills.
 * -What are the possible dangers associated with this chemical?**

It speeds up the hormones that add fat to the breast and hips. Basically female features
 * -How, specifically, does this chemical affect the body?**

It triggers female characteristics and boost hormones.
 * -What human body processes does this chemical affect?**

Reproductive system, Nervous System, and bones
 * -What human system does this chemical affect?**

Estrogens are a group of chemically similar steroid hormones. Steroids are a special kind of fat molecule with a four-ringed, carbon atom backbone, or core, like their cholesterol predecessor. A series of chemical reactions, spurred by proteins called enzymes, remove and add groups to cholesterol's core. These actions transform it first into the steroid pregnenolone and then into androgens. Special aromatase enzymes convert androgens into the estrogens estradiol and estrone.

=5. Environmental implications = There are estrogen pills and people take them, their bodies don’t fully take all the medication, which is release in bowels and released into the water
 * -What specific environmental systems/processes does your chemical interact with?**

It depends on the temperature of the water and the concentration of the solution.
 * -How long does it take to degrade?**

Most people not knowing the outcome flush the medication down the toilet. But they can be taken to a pharmacy and they can be disposed of safely.
 * -How is it disposed of?**

= = =6. Economic/Political Impact = It would effect women, trans woman, anybody really because estrogen produces the balance of hormones
 * -What/who would be affected if the chemical were banned?**

The cost of alternatives can be very expensive, or be really cheap, its all on what’s the preference. But there are many ways that you can prevent pregnancy some are just really costly and not as convenient as birth control.
 * -What are the costs of alternatives?**

If this chemical was banned I think there would be a lot more babies running around here because estrogen is in birth control. But then again I also don’t think they could ever ban estrogen because it is naturally made.
 * -What products would we not have if it were banned?**

I think it would affect every woman in America and it would do so by lowering the self-esteem of men for the simple reason that her hormones are changing back or forth
 * -How would a ban affect you (or the average American)?**

A lot of men turning into women would have a lot to say about this estrogen being banned because they use that to become more feminine like.
 * -What are the political ramifications of banning this chemical?**

The sale of estrogen is a broad market; many countries like the US, Europe, and China, make there own estrogen and sale it back into the economy.
 * -What countries export and/or use this product?**

= = =7. Summary =

The benefits of estrogen have to do with the balancing of hormones and birth control. It would be very hard to ban estrogen, simply because or body makes it. If it was to banned from selling in pills, such as birth control or estrogen tablets than more women would have to rely on other ways to prevent pregnancy, some costly and some with no cost at all. But there is a small chance of anyone banning estrogen =**8. Public Service Announcement** = media type="custom" key="3508974" = =