Hygiena 2009, 54(1):23-26

Endocrine Disruptors

Drahoslava Hrubá

Ústav preventivního lékařství, Lékařská fakulta MU, Brno

Endocrine disruptors (ECDs) involve various chemicals, such as natural and synthetic hormones, natural components in plants, pesticides, chemical used in the production of plastics and in other industries, as well as in waste. Many of them are persistent in the environment, while the others are quickly degradated and so they can exert their influence for a short time only, which however can be the critical period of development. Through their interference with the endocrine system they can cause harmful effects both in animals and humans. Endocrine disruptions initiate functional changes as consequences of exposure to chemical substances; such changes can be the basis for further disorders in the body. The mechanisms of ECDs' effects are wide and can be observed in different organs. The most important one is the binding of ECDs' on receptors, but also other possibilities of action are investigated. It is generally accepted that exposure to ECDs causes negative effects among wild animals and in some experimental studies; on the other hand there is a lack of evidence about health disturbances among population exposed to the contemporary levels of ECDs.

Keywords: endocrine disruptors, mechanisms of action, consequences of exposure

Received: September 2008; Accepted: September 21, 2008; Published: March 1, 2009  Show citation