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Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are not hormones but are referred to as such
because certain chemical compounds manipulate their mechanism: hormone receptors or enzyme regulation that are triggered or slowed down due to endogenous
hormones. However, their effect goes far above typical hormonal routes and using
several mechanisms, most of which are distinct from natural hormone pathways.
Even though a broad range of mechanisms of action exists, their consequences are
associated with several conditions, including infertility, cognitive abnormalities,
diabetes Type-2, obesity, and cancer [5]. An endocrine disruptor can imitate or partially imitate natural hormones, including estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones, which may induce over-stimulation. It can also bond inside the cell to a
receptor and inhibit the activation of the endogenous hormones. Upon interfering
with the endocrine system, these endocrine-disrupting compounds cause harmful
effects in various organ systems in the human body. (Fig. 7.1) [6]. Through the
sensitive developmental phases, from fertilization to fetal development, and the
growth of the baby, exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds are of particular
concern [7].
Occurrence
More chemicals are manufactured with rapid industrialization, and these manufactured chemicals then become part of our environment. Endocrine disruptors can,
therefore, be discovered in food, personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products,
pesticides, plastics, soil, and water (precisionnutrition.com). Industrial regions are
generally categorized by contamination in soil and groundwater from a diverse
range of toxic chemicals. The exposure levels of identified EDCs are higher in areas
where the industrial chemicals seeped through ground and water and taken up by
microorganisms, plants, and then get into the kingdom Animalia. The highest proportion of these toxic substances is found in the tissues of animals at the top of the
food chain, together with human beings. Upon entering the food chain, these complex mixtures gather in animals that build up the food chain, including humans and
animals [8]. Table 7.2 summarizes the categories, examples, and sources of potential endocrine disruptors.
Classification
Highly heterogeneous endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be divided into two
categories.
1. Naturally occurring chemicals, for example, phytoestrogen (genistein, coumestrol) and
7 Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Occurrence and Exposure to the Human Being
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are not hormones but are referred to as such
because certain chemical compounds manipulate their mechanism: hormone receptors or enzyme regulation that are triggered or slowed down due to endogenous
hormones. However, their effect goes far above typical hormonal routes and using
several mechanisms, most of which are distinct from natural hormone pathways.
Even though a broad range of mechanisms of action exists, their consequences are
associated with several conditions, including infertility, cognitive abnormalities,
diabetes Type-2, obesity, and cancer [5]. An endocrine disruptor can imitate or partially imitate natural hormones, including estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones, which may induce over-stimulation. It can also bond inside the cell to a
receptor and inhibit the activation of the endogenous hormones. Upon interfering
with the endocrine system, these endocrine-disrupting compounds cause harmful
effects in various organ systems in the human body. (Fig. 7.1) [6]. Through the
sensitive developmental phases, from fertilization to fetal development, and the
growth of the baby, exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds are of particular
concern [7].
Occurrence
More chemicals are manufactured with rapid industrialization, and these manufactured chemicals then become part of our environment. Endocrine disruptors can,
therefore, be discovered in food, personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products,
pesticides, plastics, soil, and water (precisionnutrition.com). Industrial regions are
generally categorized by contamination in soil and groundwater from a diverse
range of toxic chemicals. The exposure levels of identified EDCs are higher in areas
where the industrial chemicals seeped through ground and water and taken up by
microorganisms, plants, and then get into the kingdom Animalia. The highest proportion of these toxic substances is found in the tissues of animals at the top of the
food chain, together with human beings. Upon entering the food chain, these complex mixtures gather in animals that build up the food chain, including humans and
animals [8]. Table 7.2 summarizes the categories, examples, and sources of potential endocrine disruptors.
Classification
Highly heterogeneous endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be divided into two
categories.
1. Naturally occurring chemicals, for example, phytoestrogen (genistein, coumestrol) and
7 Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Occurrence and Exposure to the Human Being