Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals’ Effects in Children: What We Know and What We Need to Learn?

Abstract

Thousands of natural or manufactured chemicals were defined as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) because they can interfere with hormone activity and the endocrine system. We summarize and discuss what we know and what we still need to learn about EDCs’ pathogenic mechanisms of action, as well as the effects of the most common EDCs on endocrine system health in childhood. The MEDLINE database (PubMed) was searched on 13 May 2022, filtering for EDCs, endocrine diseases, and children. EDCs are a group of compounds with high heterogeneity, but usually disrupt the endocrine system by mimicking or interfering with natural hormones or interfering with the body’s hormonal balance through other mechanisms. Individual EDCs were studied in detail, while humans’ “cocktail effect” is still unclear. In utero, early postnatal life, and/or pubertal development are highly susceptible periods to exposure. Human epidemiological studies suggest that EDCs affect prenatal growth, thyroid function, glucose metabolism, obesity, puberty, and fertility through several mechanisms. Further studies are needed to clarify which EDCs can mainly act on epigenetic processes. A better understanding of EDCs’ effects on human health is crucial to developing future regulatory strategies to prevent exposure and ensure the health of children today, in future generations, and in the environment.

Associations of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites with Thyroid Function and the Mediated Role of Cytokines: A Panel Study of Healthy Children

“…Several longitudinal studies explored the relations of prenatal mPAEs and infants’ thyroid function and displayed inconsistent results. − One study reported that the sum of prenatal DBP metabolites was positively related to serum cord T3 and FT4; another one showed that MBzP was negatively associated with cord TSH, while no significant association was observed in the other two studies. , However, early postnatal life was considered as a highly susceptible period to chemical exposure, and the susceptibility may vary a lot between childhood and infants. Previous birth cohorts could not reflect the influence of mPAE self-exposure on children’s thyroid function.…”

A protocol for estimating health burden posed by early life exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and its heavy metal composition: A mother-child birth (ELitE) cohort from central India

“…[110] Therefore, although we have not been able to incorporate multiple exposures such as residential greenness, high-decibel community noise, water/food pollutants such as pesticides, endocrine disrupting chemicals, etc. with known effects on child growth/developmental trajectory and morbidity pro le, [111][112][113][114][115][116][117] and "omic" technologies; we have planned for this longitudinal transgenerational study with follow-up at regular intervals and biological sampling to initiate the investigation in this eld in India. Gradually as evidence from similar cohorts starts accruing, robust data analysis and strengthening of the evidence base can be done in the future by merging collected exposure/health outcome data with advanced analysis of stored biological samples as has been done by the EXPOsOMICS research group.…”

Enhanced molecular recognition with longer chain crosslinkers in molecularly imprinted polymers for an efficient separation of TR active substances

“…chemical products and novel chemical substances, biological (exposure), egestion, and environmental samples (drainage). [30][31][32][33][34][35][36] In this study, we indicate the possibilities to obtain molecular recognition similar to receptors and realize an effective screening method for TR active substances by solving the problems of a MIP previously described. MIPs were synthesized using poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate with different units of ethylene oxide (n = 1 to 23) as crosslinkers.…”

“…chemical products and novel chemical substances, biological (exposure), egestion, and environmental samples (drainage). 30–36…”