Environmental toxins and the impact of other endocrine disrupting chemicals in women's reproductive health

Abstract

This review aimed to look into agents and mechanisms characterized as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These agents are known to cause several harmful effects to the reproductive system of women and wildlife. There is a wide range of chemicals, developed for commercial use mainly in agriculture, which may cause endocrine disruption. Numerous studies show evidence of environmental contamination. However, no one is being held liable for the damages. The most important potentially harmful agents are identified and described, along with the different effects they have on the female genital area. Brazil is a large consumer of pesticides and others chemicals that may interfere with a normal women's life. We analyzed and described the mode of action and the impacts of different EDCs (bisphenols, phthalates, atrazine, polychlorinated and polybrominated biphenyls, DDT-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane; DDE-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene; DDD-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane; and DES-diethylstilbestrol) on the genital area, ovarian steroidogenesis, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, the structure of the uterus and the vagina, and on the formation of leiomyomas.

Metabolic Reprogramming byIn UteroMaternal Benzene Exposure

“…As such, our data identify gestation as a critical period for adult metabolic perturbations, with increased sensitivity of male offspring to the toxic effects of gestational benzene exposure. In contrast, the protective sex-specific effects in adult females observed in our recent study may have a hormonal basis (Piazza and Urbanetz 2019); however, a causal relationship for these observations remains to be elucidated.…”

Melatonin rescues the reproductive toxicity of low‐dose glyphosate‐based herbicide during mouse oocyte maturation via the GPER signaling pathway

“…Female reproductive health is drastically affected by environmental factors such as toxins, drugs, and endocrine disruptors. 44,45 As for glyphosate, a potential EDC, many studies have shown hazardous effects of exposure to this chemical on endocrine system, indicating that it has potential reproductive toxicity via altering the reproductive endocrine function. 7 Moreover, some studies have provided indications of endocrine-disrupting effects induced by GBH at more environmentally relevant doses.…”

From Environmental to Possible Occupational Exposure to Risk Factors: What Role Do They Play in the Etiology of Endometriosis?

“…The possible role of environmental risk factors [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] or occupational risk factors [ 10 ] was investigated by some authors, highlighting contexts and exposures likely to be associated with the onset of the disease. There are two areas of potential risk that play a prominent role: exposure to chemical agents (particularly chemicals with xeno-estrogenic molecular activity [ 11 ]) and night work (linked to the interference on hormonal balance) [ 12 ].…”