Endocrine Disruptors and Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting women worldwide. Among environmental risk factors, increasing attention has been given to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can interfere with hormonal signaling pathways. Chronic exposure to these compounds, even at low doses, may lead to molecular changes that initiate carcinogenesis or promote tumor progression. Owing to EDCs' resistance to degradation and ability to bioaccumulate in organisms and the environment, they pose a growing concern for human health. They can mimic or block natural hormones by binding to receptors, such as estrogen, progesterone, aryl hydrocarbon, or thyroid-stimulating receptors, disrupting hormone synthesis, secretion, and metabolism. They have shown the ability to initiate carcinogenic changes in breast tissue or accelerate cancer progression. This review focuses on the relationship between EDC exposure and breast cancer, examining both their mechanisms of action and long-term health effects. Compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls, parabens, phenols, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, diethylhexyl phthalate, and bisphenol A, which are frequently encountered in everyday products, are discussed in detail. By presenting European Union guidelines and exploring EDCs' biological activity and pathways of endocrine disruption, we aimed to raise awareness of their potential risks and emphasize the need for further research.