1. What are endocrine disrupting chemicals

Endocrine disrupting chemicals

The idea that xenobiotic chemicals could inappropriately modlate the endocrine system thereby causing detrimental effects n wildlife and humans was first proposed 20 years ago at the atershed Wingspread Conference [1,2]. These endocrine disruptng chemicals (EDCs) have long been controversial, with a great eal of discussion raging in the scientific literature. Much of this ontroversy has centere...

Cryptorchidism and endocrine disrupting chemicals

Prospective clinical studies have suggested that the rate of congenital cryptorchidism has increased since the 1950s. It has been hypothesized that this may be related to environmental factors. Testicular descent occurs in two phases controlled by Leydig cell-derived hormones insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) and testosterone. Disorders in fetal androgen production/action or suppression of Insl3 a...

Potential toxicity of synthetic chemicals: what you should know about endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Chemical communication threatened by endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Communication on a cellular level--defined as chemical signaling, sensing, and response--is an essential and universal component of all living organisms and the framework that unites all ecosystems. Evolutionarily conserved signaling "webs," existing both within an organism and between organisms, rely on efficient and accurate interpretation of chemical signals by receptors. Therefore, endocrin...

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and male reproductive health.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are substances present in the environment that can interfere with normal hormonal balance and thus exert potentially adverse health effects on the human organism. Male reproductive system development and function may be susceptible to the effects of such environmental toxicants. Bisphenol A, phthalates and alkylphenols are important components of multiple products...