Front Matter

198 Autism and Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

where a finite number of hormonal interactions creates an infinite music of life.

The bindings of natural hormones to their respective receptors are critical for

both health and disease. Interference by EDCs can disturb a fine balance of

processes of life and if a fetus is exposed to EDCs they may cause problems in

brain development, cellular differentiation, organogenesis and perturb numer­

ous molecular and physiological processes, including regulation of gene and

protein expression, exocytosis of vesicles containing peptide or protein hor­

mones, metabolism and steroidogenesis of lipophilic hormones, transport

through circulation (often in association with binding partners), actions at

Thinning hair Loss of eyebrow hair

hair loss

Puffy face

Dry and

coarse skin

Constipation

Cool

extremities and

swelling of the limbs

The thyroid gland

does not produce

enough thyroid

hormone

Enlarged thyroid

Slow heartbeat

Poor appetite

Infertility

heavy

menstruation

Carpal tunnel

syndrome

Weight gain

Poor memory

Intolerance to cold

Feeling of tiredness

Figure 7.8 Symptoms of hypothyroidism. Source: https://www.massagemag.com/

massage‐therapy‐thyroid‐health‐34099/. Reproduced with permission of Natural

Therapeutics Health Centre Inc.