Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Route of Outcome in
EDC Activity Prevention
exposure [1] humans
BPA Contaminated Anti- Decreased Use of BPA-free
food, water androgenic [2] sperm quality household
Prenatal Sperm DNA products
exposure damage [3]
DDT Imported Estrogenic Possible Cook seafood
food/seafood increased risk thoroughly
Water, air, dust of human Repeated washing
Prenatal breast cancer [4] of produce
exposure
DES Pharmaceutical Estrogenic Infertility, For males with in
exposure reproductive utero exposure:
Prenatal tract regular prostate
exposure abnormalities, and testicular
cancer [5,6] cancer screening
examinations
For females with in
utero exposure:
gynecological
screening for
vaginal/cervical
clear cell
adenocarcinoma [7]
Dioxin Contaminated Context- Increase in Stricter control of
food, water dependent diabetes, industrial
Inhalation estrogenic, gastrointestinal processes
androgen and lymphatic Choose organic
agonist/activity cancers [8] produce
Avoid use of
bleached paper
products (diapers,
paper towels)
Genistein Food (soy, Estrogenic Cancer: pro- or Avoid
legumes, antiproliferative concentrated soy
grains, nuts) depending on proteins [11]
dose and tissue
type [9] ;
protective in
breast
cancer [10]
Phthalates Food Anti- Alterations in Use of filtered
packaging, androgenic [2] neonatal water
cosmetics, androgens and Avoiding plastics
household Leydig cell in food
products function [12] preparation and
Prenatal storage
exposure Use of fragrance-
free products
PCBs Contaminated Context- Prostate Use of protective
food dependent cancer [14] clothing and facial
Occupational androgen Dermal and respiratory
exposure agonist/activity lesions [15] protective
through Weak equipment when
inhalation and estrogenic working with
skin by industrial or
industrial and construction
construction materials
materials manufactured
manufactured before 1978
before 1978 in
the United
States and
2004
worldwide [13]
EDC: endocrine-disrupting chemical; BPA: bisphenol A; DDT: dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane;
DES: diethylstilbestrol; PCBs: polychlorinated biphenyls.
References:
1. Gore AC, Crews D, Doan LL, et al. Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs): A Guide for
Public Interest Organizations and Policy-Makers. Endocrine Society: Washington, DC, USA, 2014.
2. De Falco M, Forte M, Laforgia V. Estrogenic and anti-androgenic endocrine disrupting chemicals and
their impact on the male reproductive system. Front Environ Sci 2015; 3.
3. Meeker JD, Ehrlich S, Toth TL, et al. Semen quality and sperm DNA damage in relation to urinary
bisphenol A among men from an infertility clinic. Reprod Toxicol 2010; 30:532.
4. Snedeker SM. Pesticides and breast cancer risk: A review of DDT, DDE, and dieldrin. Environ Health
Perspect 2001; 109:35.
5. Conlon JL. Diethylstilbestrol: Potential health risks for women exposed in utero and their offspring.
JAAPA 2017; 30:49.
6. Titus-Ernstoff L, Troisi R, Hatch EE, et al. Birth defects in the sons and daughters of women who were
exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES). Int J Androl 2010; 33:377.
7. Schrager S, Potter BE. Diethylstilbestrol exposure. Am Fam Physician 2004; 69:2395.
8. Bertazzi PA, Bernucci I, Bramvilla G, et al. The Seveso studies on early and long-term effects of dioxin
exposure: A review. Environ Health Perspect 1998; 106:625.
9. Russo M, Russo GL, Daglia M, et al. Understanding genistein in cancer: The "good" and the "bad" effects:
A review. Food Chem 2016; 196:589.
10. Shu XO, Zheng Y, Cai H, et al. Soy food intake and breast cancer survival. JAMA 2009; 302:2437.
11. Soy and Your Health. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Available at:
https://www.pcrm.org/health/health-topics/soy-and-your-health (Accessed on October 3, 2018).
12. Main KM, Mortensen GK, Kaleva MM, et al. Human breast milk contamination with phthalates and
alterations of endogenous reproductive hormones in infants three months of age. Environ Health
Perspect 2006; 114:270.
13. Porta M, Zumeta E. Implementing the Stockholm Treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Occup Environ
Med 2002; 59:651.
14. Gore AC, Chappell VA, Fenton SE, et al. EDC-2: The Endocrine Society's Second Scientific Statement on
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocr Rev 2015; 36:E1.
15. Maroni M, Colombi A, Arbosti G, et al. Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in electrical
workers. II. Health effects. Br J Ind Med 1981; 38:55.
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