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Toxics
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Toxicological Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Human Health
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Toxicological Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Human Health

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Toxicology and Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2024) | Viewed by 4113

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Laura Narciso

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Guest Editor
Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: toxicology; endocrine disruptors; in vivo and in vitro models; genotoxicity; natural substances

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDs) are substances that can interact or interfere with normal hormonal action, leading to alteration of the endocrine system. EDs can induce dysregulation of the body’s development, growth, reproduction, and metabolism. Consequently, EDs have a significant impact on human health.

EDs include natural chemicals (e.g., phytoestrogens from plants), natural hormones (produced by animals), synthetically produced pharmaceuticals (e.g., contraceptive pills), human-made chemicals (e.g., pesticides or plasticizers), and industrial chemicals (metals, dioxins, and flame retardants) released into the environment. Since EDs come from different sources of the environment (such as air, soil, and water pollution) and are present in food, people can be exposed in several ways. Moreover, EDs exert their effects through different mechanisms. The assessment of EDs is still evolving and is a work in progress.

We are pleased to invite researchers to submit original articles and reviews related to all aspects of EDs, including their impact on human health. The scientific knowledge on EDs is still growing, and this Special Issue aims to be multidisciplinary in its approach by covering the latest research on EDs’ characterization, exposure, mode of action, and regulatory aspects.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • EDs exposure and effects on human health: disorders associated growth, neurodevelopment, reproductive system, bone tissue, behavior, metabolic diseases, obesity, and carcinogenesis;
  • State of the art of EDs regulations and risk assessment;
  • Analysis of sources of human-made EDs and naturally occurring endocrine active substances;
  • Mechanisms and mode of action of EDs;
  • EDs toxicology: epidemiological and biomonitoring studies and in vitro and in vivo toxicity testing.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Laura Narciso
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • endocrine disruptors
  • toxicology
  • adverse health effects
  • endocrine system
  • exposure
  • risk assessment
  • pesticides
  • plasticizers
  • phytoestrogen

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 561 KiB  
Article
Altered Sex Ratio at Birth with Maternal Exposure to Dioxins in Vietnamese Infants
by Noriko Kaneko, Muneko Nishijo, Hoa Thi Vu, Tai Pham-The, Thao Ngoc Pham, Nghi Ngoc Tran, Tomoya Takiguchi and Yoshikazu Nishino
Toxics 2024, 12(4), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12040276 - 09 Apr 2024
Viewed by 462
Abstract
Excess female births (lower sex ratio at birth) associated with paternal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) have been reported in Italy. However, no significant effects of maternal TCDD exposure on the sex ratio were reported. We investigated the effects of maternal TCDD exposure and [...] Read more.
Excess female births (lower sex ratio at birth) associated with paternal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) have been reported in Italy. However, no significant effects of maternal TCDD exposure on the sex ratio were reported. We investigated the effects of maternal TCDD exposure and the toxic equivalent quantity of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (TEQ-PCDD/Fs) on the sex ratio at birth in 576 Vietnamese infants from three birth cohorts. TCDD and TEQ-PCDD/Fs in breast milk were stratified (low, mild, moderate, and high) as maternal exposure markers. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate associations between female birth and dioxin exposure groups after adjusting for confounders. In sprayed and unsprayed areas, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of female birth (reference: low-TCDD group) were 2.11 in the moderate-TCDD group and 2.77 in the high-TCDD group, which were significantly associated with increased TCDD exposure. In sprayed areas, a significantly increased OR in the high-TCDD group was observed. No significant associations, however, were found between having a girl and TEQ-PCDD/F levels. These results suggest that maternal TCDD exposure may alter the sex ratio at birth among Vietnamese residents of areas with high dioxin contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicological Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Human Health)
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14 pages, 1278 KiB  
Article
Association between Urinary BPA Substitutes and Precocious Puberty among Girls: A Single-Exposure and Mixed Exposure Approach from a Chinese Case—Control Study
by Francis Manyori Bigambo, Dandan Wang, Jian Sun, Xinliang Ding, Xiuzhu Li, Beibei Gao, Di Wu, Wei Gu, Mingzhi Zhang and Xu Wang
Toxics 2023, 11(11), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11110905 - 06 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1005
Abstract
There is an argument that BPA substitutes may have the same or more deleterious health effects as BPA due to their structural similarity. This study explored the association between urinary BPA substitutes and precocious puberty among girls by including 120 girls with precocious [...] Read more.
There is an argument that BPA substitutes may have the same or more deleterious health effects as BPA due to their structural similarity. This study explored the association between urinary BPA substitutes and precocious puberty among girls by including 120 girls with precocious puberty (cases) aged 2–10 years enrolled at Nanjing Children’s Hospital Department of Endocrinology in China between April 2021 to September 2021 and 145 healthy girls (controls) recruited from a primary school. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of single exposures, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation were used for the mixed effect. In the multivariate logistic regression, BPS (bisphenol S), TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol A), and BPFL (bisphenol-FL) were significantly associated with increased risk of precocious puberty (odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 2.76, p = 0.014), (OR = 1.46, CI: 1.06, 2.05; p = 0.023), and (OR = 1.47, CI: 1.01, 2.18; p = 0.047), respectively. The BMKR and quantile-based g-computation models revealed consistent associations for single exposures and there was insufficient evidence for the associations of the mixed exposure of bisphenols with precocious puberty. In conclusion, BPA substitutes such as BPS, TBBPA, and BPFL may be associated with an increased risk of precocious puberty in girls. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicological Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Human Health)
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18 pages, 5282 KiB  
Article
Protective Effects of a Red Grape Juice Extract against Bisphenol A-Induced Toxicity in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
by Caterina Russo, Alessandro Maugeri, Ambrogina Albergamo, Giacomo Dugo, Michele Navarra and Santa Cirmi
Toxics 2023, 11(4), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11040391 - 21 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1396
Abstract
Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) occurs through the ingestion of contaminated food and water, thus leading to endothelial dysfunction, the first signal of atherosclerosis. Vitis vinifera L. (grape) juice is well known for its health-promoting properties, due to its numerous bioactive compounds [...] Read more.
Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) occurs through the ingestion of contaminated food and water, thus leading to endothelial dysfunction, the first signal of atherosclerosis. Vitis vinifera L. (grape) juice is well known for its health-promoting properties, due to its numerous bioactive compounds among which are polyphenols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of a red grape juice extract (RGJe) against the endothelial damage induced by BPA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as an in vitro model of endothelial dysfunction. Our results showed that RGJe treatment counteracted BPA-induced cell death and apoptosis in HUVECs, blocking caspase 3 and modulating p53, Bax, and Bcl-2. Moreover, RGJe demonstrated antioxidant properties in abiotic tests and in vitro, where it reduced BPA-induced reactive oxygen species as well as restored mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA integrity, and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, RGJe reduced the increase of chemokines (IL-8, IL-1β, and MCP-1) and adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin), caused by BPA exposure, involved in the primary phase of atheromatous plaque formation. Overall, our results suggest that RGJe prevents BPA-induced vascular damage modulating specific intracellular mechanisms, along with protecting cells, owing to its antioxidant capability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicological Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Human Health)
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Review

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23 pages, 1271 KiB  
Review
Toxicological Effects of Naturally Occurring Endocrine Disruptors on Various Human Health Targets: A Rapid Review
by Sara Virtuoso, Carla Raggi, Antonella Maugliani, Francesca Baldi, Donatella Gentili and Laura Narciso
Toxics 2024, 12(4), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12040256 - 29 Mar 2024
Viewed by 690
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting compounds are chemicals that alter the normal functioning of the endocrine system of living organisms. They can be natural (N-EDCs) or synthetic compounds (S-EDCs). N-EDCs can belong to different groups, such as phytoestrogens (PEs), including flavonoids, or mycotoxins originating from plants or [...] Read more.
Endocrine-disrupting compounds are chemicals that alter the normal functioning of the endocrine system of living organisms. They can be natural (N-EDCs) or synthetic compounds (S-EDCs). N-EDCs can belong to different groups, such as phytoestrogens (PEs), including flavonoids, or mycotoxins originating from plants or fungi, and cyanotoxins, derived from bacteria. Humans encounter these substances in their daily lives. The aim of this rapid review (RR) is to provide a fine mapping of N-EDCs and their toxicological effects on human health in terms of various medical conditions or adverse consequences. This work is based on an extensive literature search and follows a rigorous step-by-step approach (search strategy, analysis strategy and data extraction), to select eligible papers published between 2019 and 2023 in the PubMed database, and to define a set of aspects characterizing N-EDCs and the different human target systems. Of the N-EDCs identified in this RR, flavonoids are the most representative class. Male and female reproductive systems were the targets most affected by N-EDCs, followed by the endocrine, nervous, bone and cardiovascular systems. In addition, the perinatal, pubertal and pregnancy periods were found to be particularly susceptible to natural endocrine disruptors. Considering their current daily use, more toxicological research on N-EDCs is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicological Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Human Health)
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