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Endometriosis Case Study

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Epidemiology Overview According to the Womenshealth.gov, researchers think 11 percent of American women may be affected by Endometriosis, which is about 6.5 million women. Endometriosis usually affects women who are in their reproductive ages (15-44) but commonly it affects women in their 30s and 40s (Office on Women’s Health, 2018). The purpose of this paper is to explain what endometriosis is, and dioxins and to look at two conflicting articles that focus on the association of endometriosis and dioxins. Endometriosis Endometriosis is when the tissue of the uterus grows on the outside of the uterus and other area of the body. Some of those other areas are the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the vagina, the tissue that holds the uterus in place …show more content…

The second study showed there was no statistically significant association between exposure to dioxin like compounds and the occurrence of endometriosis in infertile women. Both studies were case control experiments. Study 1 The first study had a sample size of 200 patients. The cases (n=96) are women that have had laparoscopy surgery where it provided proof of endometriosis. The controls (n=106) are the women who also had the surgery and showed there was no evidence of endometriosis. The cases were later split into 4 groups: minimal, mild, moderate, and severe endometriosis. To measure the concentration of dioxins like compounds, plasma samples were collected during the laparoscopic surgery and measured in a dioxin-responsive chemical-activated luciferase expression bioassay. The measurements were analyzed in SPSS. The odds ratio was age adjusted which was 2.44 of women with a high concentration would have endometriosis ad 3.01 with high concentration would have a risk of having moderate to severe endometriosis. The results indicated that women with more exposure to dioxin like compounds are 2.5 times likely to have endometriosis and 3 times likely to have severe endometriosis than those with less exposure (Simsa, et al., …show more content…

For example, Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors and Clean Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) are all regulations used to control dioxin exposure. The Safe Drinking Water Act established a maximum contaminant level for dioxin in water. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act required manufacturers to release what chemicals they are using. Toxic Substances Control Act requires any person in manufacturing that knows of anyone using toxic substances must repot it to the EPA. Hazardous Air Pollutants for Hazardous Waste Combustors and Clean Air Act is used to control emissions from combustion (Environmental Protection Agency,

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