Xenoestrogens are a group of chemicals that are hormonally active agents.
They differ from phytoestrogens (which are estrogenic substances from plants), and act as false messengers disrupt the process of reproduction. Xenoestrogens also are believed to have an effect on oncogenes (cancer genes), specifically in relation to breast cancer.
Xenoestrogens include: Methylbenzylidene camphor (sunscreen lotions), butylated hydroxyanisole / BHA (food preservative), atrazine (weedkiller), bisphenol A (monomer for polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin; antioxidant in plasticizers), a number of insecticides including dieldrin, DDT, endosulfan, erythrosine / FD&C Red No. 3, heptachlor, indane / hexachlorocyclohexane, methoxychlor, onylphenol and derivatives (industrial surfactants; emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization; laboratory detergents; pesticides), polychlorinated biphenyls / PCBs (in farmed fish, electrical oils, lubricants, adhesives, paints), parabens (lotions), phenosulfothiazine (a red dye), phthalates (plasticizers), DEHP (plasticizer for PVC. )