Methodological approach for evaluation of the environmental diseases

Abstract

Physiological changes caused by environmental stress responses can result in environmental disease in wild animals, including humans. Previous studies have been reported that physiological changes by stress response induced the disturbance of neuroendocrine system via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. Hereby, we hypothesize that acute- and long-term stress responses may influence physiological endocrine function, and finally lead to behavior- and reproductive disorder in wild fish. Indeed, through the impacts caused by exposure to various environmental chemicals, we confirmed that physiological dysfunction by stress response was associated with an increased risk of physical diseases induced by exposure concentration of chemicals. Therefore, we suggest that there is a strong interaction between environmental diseases and physiological dysfunction by long-term exposure to environmental stressors, such as hazardous chemicals. However, to clearly define the acceleration of physiological dysfunction by stress response, the scientific evidences regarding the impacts of different stressors, stress severity, and times of stress (i.e., acute- and chronic stress) on the physiological metabolic responses in the body are need. Moreover, the risk and durability of environmental disease in age, gender, and health status should be demonstrated.