What environmental factor is associated with alterations in cortisol levels?

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and plays a crucial role in the body's response to stress, metabolism regulation, and immune responses. One significant environmental factor associated with alterations in cortisol levels is sleep schedule.

Disruptions in sleep patterns, such as those experienced with shift work, insomnia, or irregular sleeping habits, can lead to significant fluctuations in cortisol production. In a typical circadian rhythm, cortisol levels peak in the early morning and decline throughout the day. When sleep is compromised, this rhythm can be disrupted, leading to increased cortisol levels at inappropriate times or overly elevated levels overall. This can have various implications for health, including impacts on metabolic processes, mental health, and general well-being.

The other options, while they may have their own health implications, do not have as direct an association with cortisol regulation as sleep patterns do. For instance, while exposure to certain chemicals like BPA or arsenic may affect overall hormonal balance or health, their direct connection to cortisol alterations isn’t as pronounced as the link between sleep schedules and cortisol levels. Similarly, radiation can have various physiological effects but does not specifically alter cortisol levels in the way that sleep disturbances do.