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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

Sexual differentiation and environmental endocrine disrupters

J Toppari1, N E Skakkebaek

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Turku, Finland.

Bailliere'S Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|January 16, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Environmental endocrine disrupters can interfere with male sexual development. Exposure to these chemicals may contribute to reproductive health issues like cryptorchidism and hypospadias.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Male sexual differentiation relies on testicular hormones like testosterone and müllerian-inhibiting substance.
  • Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can disrupt hormonal balance, leading to adverse effects in developing fetuses.
  • Abnormal sexual development in wildlife and concerning trends in human reproductive health suggest a link to EDC exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential role of environmental endocrine disrupters in disturbed sexual differentiation.
  • To investigate the impact of EDCs on male and female fetal development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on endocrine disrupters and sexual development.
  • Analysis of environmental factors affecting fetal development.
  • Correlation of EDC presence with observed reproductive health trends.

Main Results:

  • External factors like estrogens and anti-androgens can cause feminizing or demasculinizing effects.
  • Many environmental chemicals exhibit weak estrogenic or anti-androgenic activities, classifying them as EDCs.
  • Abnormal sexual development in animals is linked to exposure to mixtures of EDCs.

Conclusions:

  • The hypothesis that increased exposure to environmental EDCs contributes to disturbed sexual differentiation is supported by emerging evidence.
  • Adverse trends in human reproductive health, including cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and testicular cancer, may be linked to EDC exposure.
  • Further research is warranted to fully understand the impact of EDCs on reproductive health.

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