Executive Summary to EDC-2: The Endocrine Society's Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

Endocr Rev. 2015 Dec;36(6):593-602. doi: 10.1210/er.2015-1093. Epub 2015 Sep 28.

Abstract

This Executive Summary to the Endocrine Society's second Scientific Statement on environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) provides a synthesis of the key points of the complete statement. The full Scientific Statement represents a comprehensive review of the literature on seven topics for which there is strong mechanistic, experimental, animal, and epidemiological evidence for endocrine disruption, namely: obesity and diabetes, female reproduction, male reproduction, hormone-sensitive cancers in females, prostate cancer, thyroid, and neurodevelopment and neuroendocrine systems. EDCs such as bisphenol A, phthalates, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diethyl ethers, and dioxins were emphasized because these chemicals had the greatest depth and breadth of available information. The Statement also included thorough coverage of studies of developmental exposures to EDCs, especially in the fetus and infant, because these are critical life stages during which perturbations of hormones can increase the probability of a disease or dysfunction later in life. A conclusion of the Statement is that publications over the past 5 years have led to a much fuller understanding of the endocrine principles by which EDCs act, including nonmonotonic dose-responses, low-dose effects, and developmental vulnerability. These findings will prove useful to researchers, physicians, and other healthcare providers in translating the science of endocrine disruption to improved public health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzhydryl Compounds / toxicity
  • Diabetes Mellitus / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Endocrine Disruptors / toxicity*
  • Endocrinology
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Female
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Herbicides / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / chemically induced
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / epidemiology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / chemically induced
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Neurosecretory Systems / drug effects
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Pesticides / toxicity
  • Phenols / toxicity
  • Phthalic Acids / toxicity
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / toxicity
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Societies, Medical
  • Thyroid Gland / drug effects

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Herbicides
  • Pesticides
  • Phenols
  • Phthalic Acids
  • phthalic acid
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  • bisphenol A