[Toxicologic hazards at the endocrine level of heavy metals]

The effects of heavy metals (in particular Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn and Hg) on pituitary, thyroid, adrenal gland, pancreas and gonads are reviewed. The effect of these metals on the CNS centers regulating endocrine function is emphasized. On this time, the reviewed data stress the importance of studying the mechanisms of preclinical damage and the biological markers of it.