Endocrine disruptors: Literature review on toxicology and application field in occupational medicine

Endocrine Disruptors (ED) and their possible impact on human health have become a topic of discussion and an area of active research in toxicology. Endocrine disrupting compound are found in plastics, detergents, surfactants, pesticides and industrial chemicals. This review will focus attention on exposure to ED in occupational context. ED are defined as an extrogenous substance or mixture that alters the function of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny. ED increases the incidence of endocrine diseases and disorders, affects the development, the immune system and influence the course of immunological disorders including autoimmune diseases. ED affects the reproductive system, they may be responsible for oligospermia, sperm characteristics, testicular steroidogenesis, testicular atrophy, uterus weight increases and proliferation of vaginal epithelium. Adverse effects are related to dose and potency of xenobiotics, ED in high doses may cause a developmental, reproductive and tumorigenic effects, however there isn't agreement that in low exposure there are effects. Symptoms from occupational exposure are reversible after exposure has end, however xenoestrogen exposure during critical stages of developmental (during pregnancy) can also result in irreversible damage.