Tiny pills, big impacts: A systematic review on the endocrine disrupting effects of paediatric pharmaceuticals

L Tourvieilhe1, F Salvo2, V Bréant3

  • 1Clinical Investigation Centre, CIC 1407, Hospices Civils de Lyon-INSERM, Bron, France.

Insights

This review found limited evidence that medications and essential oils may act as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in children, impacting growth and development. More robust research is needed to confirm these potential risks.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Paediatric Endocrinology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) pose potential risks to children's health.
  • Pharmaceuticals and essential oils are identified as possible sources of EDC exposure in paediatric populations.
  • Existing research highlights a need to investigate the endocrine-disrupting potential of substances children are exposed to.

Conclusions:

  • While potential risks exist, the overall quality of available data linking paediatric medication exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is limited.
  • The current evidence base predominantly relies on case reports, highlighting a significant gap in robust scientific findings.
  • Further high-quality research is necessary to establish definitive links and address potential conflicts of interest in the field.

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