Centre for Environmental Studies, CEG Campus, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
Environ Int. 2015 Mar;76:78-97. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.12.006. Epub 2015 Jan 5.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous agents that interfere or disrupt the normal synthesis, secretion, transportation, binding and metabolism of natural hormones; eventually dysregulating homeostatic mechanisms, reproduction and development. They are emitted into the atmosphere during anthropogenic activities and physicochemical reactions in nature. Inhalation of these EDCs as particulate and gaseous vapors triggers their interaction with endocrine glands and exerts agonist or antagonists actions at hormone receptors. The endocrine disruption at nanogram levels of EDC's has gained concern in the last decade, due to infertility among men and women, early puberty, obesity, diabetes and cancer. Thus, the review explores the literature that addresses the major occurring EDCs in the atmosphere including phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), dioxins, alkylphenols (APs) and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). Sources, fate, half-life, mechanism, measured concentrations in air, bioaccumulation in tissues, laboratory exposures correlating to toxicological effects of these EDCs in humans and wildlife are discussed.
内分泌干扰化学物质（EDCs）是一种外源性物质，它可以干扰或破坏天然激素的正常合成、分泌、运输、结合和代谢；最终会扰乱体内平衡机制、生殖和发育。它们是在人为活动和自然的物理化学反应中排放到大气中的。这些 EDC 作为颗粒和气体蒸气被吸入，会引发它们与内分泌腺的相互作用，并在激素受体上发挥激动剂或拮抗剂的作用。在过去十年中，由于男性和女性不孕、性早熟、肥胖、糖尿病和癌症等问题，人们对 EDC 在纳克水平上的内分泌干扰越来越关注。因此，本综述探讨了文献中提到的大气中主要存在的内分泌干扰化学物质，包括邻苯二甲酸酯、多氯联苯（PCBs）、多环芳烃（PAHs）、溴化阻燃剂（BFRs）、二恶英、烷基酚（APs）和全氟化学品（PFCs）。讨论了它们的来源、命运、半衰期、机制、空气中的测量浓度、在组织中的生物累积、与这些 EDC 在人类和野生动物中的毒理学效应相关的实验室暴露。
