[Alkylphenols: assessment of risks for aquatic ecosystems and for human health with particular reference to endocrine...

(Alkylphenols: evaluation of the risk to aquatic ecosystems and human health with reference to endocrine effects).--Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are a heterogeneous group of substances that can interfere with many endocrine functions. Their effects have been demonstrated in different taxa and they are suspected to affect human health. Alkylphenols are an important group of EDC. They are formed from the degradation of alkylphenol polyethoxylates in the environment or in the sewage treatment plants. They are generally characterized by a high bioconcentration factor (BCF) and accumulate both in sediments and aquatic species. Alkylphenols (APE) show estrogenic activity: studies on fish and rodents put into evidence on both reproductive and developmental effects. In a recent study, the levels of APE detected in seafood from the Adriatic Sea showed a no negligible human health risk for strong fish consumers.