Alligators in a Florida lake polluted by high levels of dioxins (chlorinated hydrocarbons) had lowtestosterone levels and failed
to reproduce. Scientists came to the conclusion that the dioxins were acting aswhich of the following?1. Endocrine disrupters2. Growth hormones3. Carcinogens4. Immune-system suppressors5. Mutagens
Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that alters or interrupts the normal functioning of the endocrine system that consists of several glands that produce hormones responsible for various functions such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, etc. When this interferes with the endocrine system, it can bring about many undesirable consequences, one of which is low testosterone levels as reported in the Alligators in Florida lake that is polluted by high levels of dioxins. These chemicals act as endocrine disrupters.
Rigid skeletons are formed from materials including chitin (in arthropods), calcium compounds such as calcium carbonate (in stony corals and mollusks) and silicate (for diatoms and radiolarians).
