Endocrine disruptors and congenital anomalies

Cad Saude Publica. 2002 Mar-Apr;18(2):421-8. doi: 10.1590/s0102-311x2002000200006. Epub 2002 Aug 16.

Abstract

The specialized literature was reviewed concerning the suspected increasing secular trends in the frequency of female births, male genital congenital anomalies, abnormal sperm counts, and testicular cancer. Although no risk factors could be identified yet, the observed sex ratio decline during the last decades has been considered to be an effect of certain pollutants on normal hormone activity, and human reproductive development. Reported increasing trends in the frequencies of hypospadias and cryptorchidism are very difficult to be interpreted due to the large variability in the registered frequency of these malformations due to operational as well as biological reasons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Drug-Induced*
  • Cryptorchidism / chemically induced
  • Endocrine System / drug effects*
  • Environmental Pollutants / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypospadias / chemically induced
  • Male
  • Paternal Exposure / adverse effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Risk Factors
  • Semen / physiology
  • Sex Differentiation / drug effects
  • Sex Ratio*

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants