DDT and Estrogen: Can they affect reproductive health?

In 1980, after huge amounts of DDT and its analogs were spilled into Lake Apopka in Florida, it was found that the DDE resultant caused major reproductive problems for the alligators that survived the spill, because the ratio between the hormones estrogen and testosterone was imbalanced, and tipped greatly towards higher estrogen levels. Scientists believe that as a result, reproductive problems ensued for alligators, as well as birds, because DDE has been found to restrict the binding of male hormones to their receptor. In addition, the consequences become greater for those who receive the hormone from its mother as a fetus, which results in cancer for the creature as an adult. It is unclear, however, if this environmental estrogen wreaks similar havoc on human reproductive systems, although some research has been done to show that high levels of DDE exposure before puberty in girls causes puberty to be reached a full year earlier than normal, while boys are not affected similarly.
Unfamiliar terms:
DDE: a degradation product of DDT
Analog: compounds in which one or more original atom has been replaced, either with a different atom or a different functional group
Reaction:
This article more than anything reinforced the concept that we, as human beings, need to figure out exactly what effects our actions, such as using pesticides, have on the environment and in turn on ourselves. Not only will a lack of this awareness contribute to countless deaths for other living organisms, but it will probably cause the death and destruction for human life as well. Simply learning about the effects of DDT spills or oil spills after the fact does almost nothing, for the damage has already been done. Like global warming, it can’t be reversed, and careful, lessened uses of energy or oil can only delay the issue, not block it or reverse it.
References:
“analog” Wikipedia. Mar 12 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_(chemistry)
“DDE” Environmental Health Perspectives Online. Mar 12 2009. http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2007/10550/abstract.html