Many compounds present in the environment are capable of binding to cellular estrogen receptors and then mimicking the actions of physiological estrogens. The origin of these chemicals is widespread, and their diversity in chemical structure is extensive. However, most such compounds have been organic, generally phenolic or carbon ring structures.
But there have been reports that certain metal ions can also bind to estrogen receptors. These inorganic environmental estrogens have been termed metalloestrogens.
According to a study, as reported by Green Med Info:
“... [M]etalloestrogens ... include aluminium, antimony, arsenite, barium, cadmium, chromium (Cr(II)), cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenite, tin and vanadate. [There is] potential for these metal ions to add to the burden of aberrant estrogen signalling within the human breast”.