Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Their Effects in Pet Dogs and Cats: An Overview

Abstract

Over the past few decades, several pollutants classified as environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become a matter of significant public health concern. Companion animals play a major role in human society, and pet ownership is substantially increasing worldwide. These intimate human–pet relationships imply sharing much of the same environment, thus including exposure to similar levels of EDCs in daily routine. Here, we review the current knowledge on the sources and routes of exposure to EDCs in domestic indoor and outdoor environments and discuss whether endocrine disruption is a health concern in pets. We summarize the phenomenon of endocrine disruption, providing examples of EDCs with a known impact on dog and cat health. Then, we propose an overview of the literature on the adverse effects of EDCs in domestic pets, with a special focus on the health of reproductive and thyroid systems. Finally, we explore the potential role of companion animals as unintentional sentinels of environmental exposure to EDCs and the implications for public health risk assessment in a “shared risk” scenario. Overall, this review supports the need for an integrated approach considering humans, animals, and the environment as a whole for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of EDCs on human and animal health.

WITHDRAWN: Demographic and ecological drivers of infectome diversity in companion cats

“…Cats are now considered an integral part of the family unit for many individuals. Recent research suggests a complex interplay between cats and their owners, with many people experiencing significant improvements in psychological well-being through the ownership and physical interaction with companion animals, such as petting, kissing, and being licked on the cheek and hands (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Despite the psychological importance of cats in the family unit, there is a lack of systematic studies focusing on the risks of infectious diseases that affect cat health.…”

Canine on the Couch: The New Canary in the Coal Mine for Environmental Health Research

“…A recent review article looked closely at chemical exposures associated with endocrine disruption and the "shared risk" scenario, which implicates pet dogs and cats as sentinels for studying the effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals. 90 This review highlights reproductive and thyroid disorders in companion animals as a model for human health.…”

“…Companion animals may also provide unique insights into disease incidence based on exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) because there are opportunities to investigate effects in the presence and absence of normal endogenous hormones due to the practice of gonadectomy. A recent review article looked closely at chemical exposures associated with endocrine disruption and the “shared risk” scenario, which implicates pet dogs and cats as sentinels for studying the effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals . This review highlights reproductive and thyroid disorders in companion animals as a model for human health.…”

Pets, Genuine Tools of Environmental Pollutant Detection

“…In order to track and quantify tobacco through inhalation, absorption, or ingestion, not only nicotine, but also cotinine can be traced in various sample mediums. Cotidine is a metabolic product of nicotine formed inside the exposed organism, it is used as a biomarker, and it can be identified in pets’ blood, saliva, urine, and hair [ 8 ]. Several studies have been performed to quantify the presence of both substances in hair, to establish the relationship between the quantity of the inspired smoke and their presence, and to explore the relevance of the findings for human and animal health.…”

“…By testing and monitoring pets, we can detect early the presence and impact of pollutants for this information to be used to minimize the adverse effects on human health [ 7 ]. Thus, companion animals can literally be considered “sentinels” of environmental pollution [ 8 ].…”