Endocrine disruptors in the environment (IUPAC Technical Report)

Abstract

Republication or reproduction of this report or its storage and/or dissemination by electronic means is permitted without the need for formal IUPAC permission on condition that an acknowledgment Endocrine disruptors in the environment (IUPAC Technical Report)Abstract: Many chemical substances of natural or anthropogenic origin are suspected or known to be endocrine disruptors, which can influence the endocrine system of life. This observation has led to increased interest on the part of the public and the media, as well as to a steep rise of research activities in the scientific community. New papers and results are presented so fast that it is impossible to give a complete review of this emerging research field. Therefore, this paper tries to give insight into some topics of the great scope of endocrine disruptors in the environment. To get a general idea of the biochemical and biological background, some parts of the endocrine systems of mammalians and nonmammalians are explained. The sections that follow describe important mechanisms of endocrine disruption such as interactions with hormone receptors. Test strategies for anthropogenic chemicals on various organisms are critically reviewed with respect to their problems and gaps concerning endocrine disruptors. The main emphasis of the paper is on the chemical substances suspected or known to be endocrine disruptors. To get a better comprehension of their behavior in the environment, physicochemical data such as water solubility or K ow , as well as information about their use and/or function are reviewed and compared. The main routes of exposure for most chemicals are shortly described, and data about concentrations in the environment (soil/sediment, water) are detailed.

Estrogens in Swiss Rivers and Effluents – Sampling Matters

“…phenolic compounds such as nonylphenol and bisphenol A [5] (NRP50 project PHENCON), flame retardants (projects FLARE and ENDAIR [6] ) and UV filters [7] (project HAUS). Beside household and industrial sources, also agriculture contributes to the pool of endocrine disrupting chemicals, including steroidal estrogens [8] but also phytoestrogens and estrogenic mycotoxins have been considered. [9] Although various studies indicate that the steroidal estrogens are the main causative agents of the estrogenic activity of effluent and receiving waters, there is a risk associated with a targeted analysis for just a limited number of known estrogenic substances.…”

Interferentes endócrinos no ambiente

“…Embora já existissem, desde o início do século XX, hipóteses prevendo alterações no funcionamento do sistema endócrino de algumas espécies animais expostas a determinadas substâncias quí-micas tóxicas, apenas recentemente esta importante questão tem recebido atenção por parte da comunidade científica, principalmente devido ao número crescente de publicações que relatam o aumento da incidência de disfunções no sistema endócrino de seres humanos (incluindo a infertilidade masculina) e, mais significativamente, efeitos fisiológicos adversos observados em espécies animais para as quais a relação causa/efeito é mais evidente. De fato, as evidências observadas em estudos envolvendo moluscos, crustáce-os, peixes, répteis, pássaros e alguns mamíferos têm sugerido que possíveis alterações de saúde humana envolvendo o sistema reprodutivo, tais como o câncer de mama e de testículo, podem estar relacionadas à exposição a tais substâncias [3][4][5][6][7][8] .Uma grande parte da evidência dos possíveis efeitos destas substâncias em seres humanos foi obtida a partir da experiência envolvendo mulheres grávidas que tomaram o estrogênio sintético dietilestilbestrol (DES), prescrito para evitar o aborto espontâneo e promover o crescimento do feto, no período entre 1948 a 1971. Muitas das filhas dessas mulheres são hoje estéreis e, uma minoria, tem desenvolvido um tipo raro de câncer vaginal.…”

Environmental Thyroid Disruptors and Human Endocrine Health

“…During the last 20 years, an enormous public and scientific interest was focused on these substances, resulting in many publications on generation, input, and behavior in the environment (Giacomini et al, 2006;Lintelmann et al, 2003;US EPA, 1994). These toxicants have a potent concern for public health: several in vitro and in vivo experiments have suggested that PCDDs and PCDFs may interfere with thyroid function (Boas et al, 2006;Giacomini et al, 2006).…”

“…www.intechopen.com The high persistence of PCBs in adipose tissues and their toxic potential for animals and humans (Breivik et al, 2002;Fisher, 1999), resulted in an almost international production stop in the 1970-80s (Lintelmann et al, 2003). However, the PCB properties, such as chemical and thermal stability, noninflammability, high boiling points, high viscosity, and low vapor pressure, are the reason for their worldwide distribution (Safe, 2000).…”

“…However, the PCB properties, such as chemical and thermal stability, noninflammability, high boiling points, high viscosity, and low vapor pressure, are the reason for their worldwide distribution (Safe, 2000). Even after the ban of PCB production in most countries, the current world inventory of PCBs is estimated at 1.2 million tons with about one-third of this quantity circulating in the environment (Lintelmann et al, 2003).…”