Endokrin Bozucuların Güncel Durumu, Ağır Metaller, Poliklorlu Bifeniller (PCBS), Parabenler, BHA, BHT

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a global problem for environmental and human health. They are defined as “an exogenous chemical, or mixture of chemicals, that can interfere with any aspect of hormone action”. It is estimated that there are about 1000 chemicals with endocrine-acting properties. EDCs comprise pesticides, fungicides, industrial chemicals, plasticizers, nonylphenols, metals, pharmaceutical agents and phytoestrogens. Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants (POPs) are substances that persist a long time in the environment and pose a threat for human health. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of POPs that were widely used and banned in 1980s. PCBs may have neurotoxic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic, hepatatoxic, nephrotoxic and cytotoxic effects. Some PCBs resemble to estradiol 17-β and hence can mimic estrogenic effects. In contrast, coplanar PCBs mimic dioxin that they bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptor and causes anti-estrogenic effects. Heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium and uranium) have been reported to have endocrine disruptive effects. However, their carcinogenic, neurotoxic and other adverse effects on human health are more important. Parabens are methyl, ethyl, propyl and ester forms of PHBA that are commonly used in food, pharmaceutical and personal care products. They have weak endocrine disruptive effects. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are food additives as antioxidants. There are very few studies on the endocrine disruptor effects of BHA and BHT. Their use has been limited in USA, EU and Canada. Human exposure to EDCs mainly occurs by ingestion and to some extent by inhalation and dermal uptake. Most EDCs are lipophilic and bioaccumulate in the adipose tissue, thus they have a very long half-life in the body. It is difficult to assess the full impact of human exposure to EDCs because adverse effects develop latently and manifest at later ages, and in some people do not present. Timing of exposure is of importance. Developing fetus and neonates are the most vulnerable to endocrine disruption. EDCs may interfere with synthesis, action and metabolism of sex steroid hormones that in turn cause developmental and fertility problems, infertility and hormone-sensitive cancers in women and men. Some EDCs exert obesogenic effects that result in disturbance in energy homeostasis. Interference with hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid and adrenal axes has also been reported. Potential EDCs, their effects and mechanisms of action, epidemiological studies to analyze their effects on human health, bio-detection and chemical identification methods, studying EDCs in humans and recommendations for endocrinologists, individuals and policy makers are reviewed.

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