Endocrine Disruptors and Health Effects in Africa: A Call for Action

Abstract

Background:Africa faces a number of unique environmental challenges. Unfortunately, it lacks the infrastructure needed to support the comprehensive environmental studies that could provide the scientific basis to inform environmental policies. There are a number of known sources of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other hazardous chemicals in Africa. However, a coordinated approach to identify and monitor these contaminants and to develop strategies for public health interventions has not yet been made.Objectives:This commentary summarizes the scientific evidence presented by experts at the First African Endocrine Disruptors meeting. We describe a “call to action” to utilize the available scientific knowledge to address the impact of EDCs on human and wildlife health in Africa.Discussion:We identify existing knowledge gaps about exposures to EDCs in Africa and describe how well-designed research strategies are needed to address these gaps. A lack of resources for research and a lag in policy implementation slows down intervention strategies and poses a challenge to advancing future health in Africa.Conclusion:To address the many challenges posed by EDCs, we argue that Africans should take the lead in prioritization and evaluation of environmental hazards, including EDCs. We recommend the institution of education and training programs for chemical users, adoption of the precautionary principle, establishment of biomonitoring programs, and funding of community-based epidemiology and wildlife research programs led and funded by African institutes and private companies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1774

Environmental Health Research in Africa: Important Progress and Promising Opportunities

“…Pesticides, particularly the insecticide DDT and its breakdown product dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethylene (DDE) and other endocrine disrupting compounds, have been associated with numerous reproductive outcomes including male infertility, impaired semen quality, increased sperm defects, anogenital distance, mean penile length in baby boys, various urogenital malformations, and spontaneous miscarriages and infant deaths (Lubick, 2010;Naidoo et al, 2010;El-Helaly et al, 2011;English et al, 2012;Abarikwu, 2013;El Kholy et al, 2013;Bornman et al, 2017). One recent paper suggested decreased ovarian reserve associated with exposure to pyrethroid pesticides (Whitworth et al, 2015).…”

“…Many chemicals that pose health risks to exposed populations in Africa and around the world are known to be endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). A meeting of scientists around this issue took place in South Africa in 2015, leading to a "call to action" to utilize available scientific knowledge to address the impact of EDCs on human as well as wildlife health in Africa (Bornman et al, 2017). This meeting report also called for a shift from reaction to prevention, with utilization of existing datasets, increased biomonitoring, and surveillance of environmental chemicals, as well as further research including the support of longitudinal studies (Bornman et al, 2017).…”

Challenges and opportunities to tackle the rising prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Africa

“…Endocrine disrupting compounds such polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and mycotoxins may impact child growth and health via modified action of growth hormone, adiposity, DNA methylation and protein synthesis (17) . Endocrine disruptors negatively impact on hormonal processes associated with growth from in utero and have potential to programme the fetus for later disease (60)(61)(62)(63) . A recent expert consultation on endocrine disruptors in Africa (63) called for urgent action to address this problem and highlighted gaps in resource allocation for research and weak policy implementation.…”

“…Endocrine disruptors negatively impact on hormonal processes associated with growth from in utero and have potential to programme the fetus for later disease (60)(61)(62)(63) . A recent expert consultation on endocrine disruptors in Africa (63) called for urgent action to address this problem and highlighted gaps in resource allocation for research and weak policy implementation. Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that are linked to adverse health outcomes in both human subjects and livestock (64)(65)(66)(67) .…”

Agrochemicals in freshwater systems and their potential as endocrine disrupting chemicals: A South African context

“…In South Africa, the spread of crop pesticides to non-target areas via spray drift has been confirmed by Dalvie et al (2014) , who reported on the migration of pesticide residues towards pre- and primary schools bordering vineyards of a wine farm in the Western Cape province. Pesticides also end up in the aquatic environment when aquatic nuisance plants are sprayed ( Mensah et al , 2012 ; Bornman et al , 2017 ). Other pesticide routes into the environment include effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) ( Van Zijl et al , 2017 ), leachates from municipal landfills ( Ojemaye and Petrik, 2019 ), run-off and leaching from contaminated soils, and the careless disposal of pesticide containers ( Olisah et al , 2020 ).…”