Hormone

Hormones are essential natural components in all vertebrates. They control various physiological processes, including osmoregulation, sexual maturity, reproduction, and stress responses. In addition, many synthetic hormones are in widespread and general use, both as human and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Recent advances in environmental analytical chemistry have enabled concentrations of steroid hormones in rivers to be determined. Many different hormones, both natural and synthetic, including transformation products, have been identified and quantified, demonstrating that evaluating hormone production inside the body is inevitable.