proper hormone signgnaling isis very important forr fetal devevelopment and for chchildhood devevelopme, as well a as sexual maturation. therefore, compopounds that ininterfere withth these process could have very profoundd effects. >> many of these and other chemicals appeaear to be associated with lower i.q.s, and/or behavioral problems in children. >> if you look at what these chemicals can do to the brain, we know now these chemicals are also interfering with how we process information. >> they affect ouour genetic outcome. they increase the possibility thatat we lose a baby.y. they change the activy of o our hormomones, our sex hormones, in a variety ofof different way. >> we''re seeieing children starting pupuberty at youounger ages. so there are many little girls that have, for example, breast buds by the age of 7 in the african american community and d 8 in the white community. this s is too y young for our children. >> 980 endocrine disrupting chemicals have now been identified. among the most ubiquitous are a class of compounds called phthalates, bisphenol a, and flame retarda