The impact of endocrine disrupters on the female reproductive system

Abstract

Over the last decades, many tonnes of man-made chemicals have been produced and released into the environment. Many of these chemical substances have the ability to modulate the action of hormones and are called endocrine disrupters. Cell receptors that have been pure receptors for thousands of years have (due to industrialization), become susceptible to the action of exogenous chemicals. The balance of the endocrine system is very important in the human body especially in females because the menstrual cycle and fertility are very sensitive to hormone imbalances. This review considers the mode of exposure and action of endocrine disrupters and focuses on their impact on the female reproductive system, including female hormone concentrations, menstrual cycle, fertility, spontaneous abortion and the development of endometriosis. An attempt is made to elucidate the impact of endocrine disrupters on the female reproductive system, while admitting that most scientific data come from experimental animals and the conclusions cannot be applied to humans easily. The aim is to present available information, highlighting the impact of endocrine disrupters on the female reproductive system, in order to stimulate reevaluation in identifying hormone disorders.

Phthalates and other additives in plastics: human exposure and associated health outcomes

“…In fact, a number of studies have suggested the use of circulating reproductive hormone levels (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and/or inhibin B) as a surrogate measure for semen quality or fecundity in epidemiologic studies ( Jensen et al 1997;Uhler et al 2003;Mabeck et al 2005), although other recent studies suggest hormone levels may lack sufficient ability to predict poor semen quality (Dhooge et al 2007;Meeker et al 2007a). Endocrine alterations in women resulting from environmental or occupational exposure may represent increased risk for endometriosis, reproductive and other endocrinerelated cancers, or impaired oocyte competence, ovarian function or menstrual cycling (Nicolopoulou-Stamati & Pitsos 2001;Pocar et al 2003;Windham et al 2005). Effects of early life exposures to EDCs remain unclear, though it has been suggested that foetal or childhood exposure may lead to altered sex differentiation (Toppari & Skakkebaek 1998), effects on neurological and reproductive development (Tilson 1998;Teilmann et al 2002;Colborn 2004Colborn , 2006Swan et al 2005) and increased risk of reproductive problems or cancer later in life (Damgaard et al 2002;Aksglaede et al 2006;Main et al 2006a).…”

Endocrine Disrupters: The Hazards for Human Health

“…The presence of these chemicals in food chain lead to an accumulation of dangerous substances in human and wildlife populations because they have not mechanisms to detoxify and/or degrading these chemicals. For these reasons similar effect on endocrine system have been observed in human and animal [10], in particular have been observed deceased hatching in birds, turtles and fish [11,12]; lower sperm quality in humans [13,14]; disordered behavior in birds and mammals, increase of malformations and cancers [15,16].…”

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“…Endosulfan has also been shown to disrupt the reproductive endocrine system and affect reproduction 5 . Several research groups have demonstrated the harmful effects of this pesticide on various organs such as liver and gonads 6 .…”