ABSTRACT
There is substantial and increasing evidence that endocrine disruption-dened here as a hormonal imbalance initiated by exposure to a pollutant and leading to alterations in development, growth, and/or reproduction in an organism or its progeny-is impacting wildlife adversely on a global scale (Tyler et al. 1998; Taylor and Harrison 1999; Vos et al. 2000). The causative chemicals of endocrine disruption in wildlife populations are wide ranging and include natural and synthetic steroids, pesticides, and a plethora of industrial chemicals. The effects induced range from subtle changes in biochemical pathways to major disruptions in reproductive performance. In the worst-case scenarios, endocrine disruption has led to population crashes and even the localized extinctions of some wildlife species.
