Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

All rights reserved with siahmsr digital healthcare[siahmsr wellness]

Reviewed by SIAHMSR medical team

What is endocrine system?

  The endocrine system includes a group of glands and organs that produce, store, and secrete hormones. Simply, it is the hormones producing, storing and coordinating system of your body which work in close connection with your nervous system.

 Hormones and endocrine system play crucial role in coordinating various functions of the body. Hormones control many biological processes in human body such as growth, metabolism, fertility, and reproduction.

  Hormones are signaling molecules that act in extremely small amounts, and minor changes in those levels may cause significant developmental and biological effects in your body.

Main hormones in human body includes thyroid hormones, insulin, pituitary hormones, sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone etc. Other hormones such as adrenalin, noradrenalin, cortisol produced by adrenal glands also play important role in your body controlling the stress response.

What are Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)?

  Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances reaching your body from various sources such as environment, food products, personal care products etc. and interfere with the normal function of the endocrine system and hormones. These substances can be natural as well as man-made. Most often contact with these chemicals may occur through diet, air, skin, and water.

  Of late, EDCs are discussed unprecedently due to their link with various health issues such as infertility, nervous system & respiratory system diseases, cardiovascular diseases etc. Studies point out that EDCs are closely connected with obesity, diabetes, learning disabilities etc.

Different types of EDCs &their mode of action in your body:

  There are various types of endocrine disruptors and their mechanism of action also vary in your body.

Some EDCs can function as "hormone mimics" and the body misinterpret them as hormones and as a result problems in the functions of your body happen.

A few other EDCs block natural hormonal functions in the body.

Hormones have specific functions to do in human body and any imbalance or dysfunction can upset the body in multiple ways.

Another group of EDCs can affect the level of hormones in your blood as they can affect the production, breaking down, or storage of hormones. Furthermore, other EDCs can change the sensitivity of the body to different hormones.

 It is impossible to avoid or prevent EDCs in your life and environment, however their impact can be considerably reduced by deliberate avoidance of those substances which can act as an endocrine disruptor.

Impact of EDCs on fetuses and children

High exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals during gestation or pregnancy can have adverse impact on foetus causing developmental delays and numerous other problems in children as they grow over the years.

Common types of endocrine disrupting chemicals [ EDCs ]

  EDCs can affect your body and health adversely as their sources are multiple and myriad. According to the Endocrine Society, there are nearly 85,000 human-made chemicals in the world, and 1,000 or more of these substances can work as endocrine disruptors, based on their unique properties.

Some of the common endocrine disrupting chemical are listed below:

·       Industrial chemicals and pesticides

 Some common examples for pesticides are DDT, Chlorpyrifos, Atrazine, 2, 4-D, Glyphosate. These can contaminate water and food sources and reaching the food chain these chemicals cause detrimental impact to human health.

Perchlorate is a colorless salt manufactured and used as an industrial chemical to make rockets, explosives, and fireworks, which can be found in some groundwater and can cause health hazards.

·       Household chemicals

      Lead, Phthalates, Cadmium are a few toxic chemicals reaching from household items of children.

     Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates, Phenol are found in plastics and food storage materials. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is used in manufacturing, food packaging, toys, and other applications. BPA resins may be found in the lining of some canned foods and beverages.

Phthalates are a large group of compounds used as liquid plasticizers. They are found in some food packaging, cosmetics, fragrances, children’s toys, and medical device tubing. Cosmetics containing phthalates include nail polish, hair spray, aftershave lotion, cleanser, and shampoo.

·       Fabrics treated with flame retardants

·        Cosmetics

Cosmetics such as lotions, products with fragrance, and anti-bacterial soaps etc. Triclosan is an ingredient that was previously added to some antimicrobial and personal care products, like liquid body wash and soaps.

·       Processed foods

·       Soy-based products

      The phyto estrogens in soy products can mimic estrogen  hormone in women of reproductive age group and act as an endocrine disruptor.

·       Industrial solvents and lubricants contain Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Dioxins. Also Brominated Flame Retardants, PCBs found in building materials are endocrine disruptors.

(PCBs) were used to make electrical equipment, such as transformers, and are in hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, lubricants, and plasticizers. PCBs were mass-produced globally until they were banned in 1979.

Impact of Endocrine disrupting chemicals on human health

Most of the studies regarding the adverse effects of EDCs on human health requires cutting edge research to confirm them. However, it has been found that EDCs impact health in numerous ways.

They can cause:

·       Neurological and behavioral changes

·       Difficulty with stress response.

·       Impact on metabolism

·       Obesity

      Type 2 diabetes

·        Interfere with thyroid function

·        Infertility

Some classes of EDCs (DDT, BPA, phthalates, PCBs, others) can affect reproductive health by mimicking or blocking the effects of male and female sex hormones

·        EDCs can affect growth and development

·       High exposures to EDCs during gestation can lead to low-birth weight in infants and developmental problems.

·       Disrupted sexual development

·       Low immunity

·       Cancer

Exposure to estrogen or androgen mimicking EDCs can promote breast and prostate cancer growth and/or interfere with hormonal cancer therapy

Research by NIEHS on endocrine disrupting chemicals

 NIEHS has been conducting research on the health effects of endocrine disruptors for over three decades. These studies have helped in better understanding of health impacts of EDCs.

This project was started with the endocrine-disrupting effects of the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). From 1940s through 1970s, DES was used to treat women with high-risk pregnancies, with the mistaken belief that it prevented miscarriage. In 1972, prenatal exposure to DES was linked to the development of a rare form of vaginal cancer in daughters whose mothers took DES, and with numerous noncancerous changes in both sons and daughters.

 NIEHS experiments on the drug DES successfully replicated and predicted health problems associated with the drug.

NIEHS was involved in developing a consensus statement in 2019 on the key characteristics of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which provides a framework to help scientists evaluate potential endocrine disruptors[2].

Role of EDCs in endometriosis

Endometriosis is an estrogen hormone dependent disease associated with multiple causes. However, some evidences are there to suggest an association between phthalate esters, bisphenol A, organochlorinated environmental pollutants and the prevalence of endometriosis [3].

Role of EDCs in increasing the risk for breast cancer

 EDC exposures may potentially increase the risk of breast cancer. As majority of EDCs are highly persistent in the environment and bio-accumulative, it is essential to assess the long-term impacts of EDC exposures.

 It is recommended that well-designed exposure assessments of potential EDCs in food and food packing are necessary and their potential link to breast cancer development need to be carefully evaluated. This may contribute  for subsequent EDC policy making and regulations [4].

Phthalates -an important endocrine disrupting chemical  banned by European countries

  Phthalates are chemicals that are used in a variety of consumer products including cosmetic and personal care products such as hair care products (hair sprays, mousses, and gels), deodorants (including antiperspirants), nail polishes, lotions (body lotions and body creams), skin cleansers, and baby products (oils, lotions, shampoos and diaper creams).

   According to studies diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detected mostly in these products. Diethyl phthalate was the most frequently detected phthalate. Dermal exposure to phthalates in infant, toddler and female adult was estimated [5].

  A number of human biomonitoring studies on the monoesters of phthalates has highlighted the large extent of humans exposure to various phthalates [6].

  The United States and the European Union are currently regulating several phthalates including DEHP and DnBP in children's products, and similar action is underway in Canada (EC, 2009b).

The European Union has banned DnBP and DEHP for use in cosmetic and personal care products in the European market (SCCP, 2007), both are classified in the European Union as category 2 substances to reproduction; that means substances which can impair fertility, or if they cause developmental toxicity in humans.

 Copyright -dr sanjana vb siahmsr

References

1.    Endocrine Society."Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) | Endocrine Society." Endocrine.org, Endocrine Society, 2 February 2024, https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/edcs

2.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31719706/

3.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32903210/

4.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33819127/

5.    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935111000284

6.    (Blount et al., 2000, CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], 2005, Calafat and McKee, 2006, Koch et al., 2005, Wittassek and Angerer, 2008).