The Importance of the Endocrine System
The endocrine system controls the release of hormones, which are molecules that help connect and govern different body systems. As a result, it is crucial for both human and animal health.
The Role of Endocrine Disrupting Substances (EDCs)
Endocrine disrupting substances (EDCs) prevent steroids from performing their intended functions, including those controlled by estrogen, androgen, and anti-androgen. Chemicals used in endocrine signaling carry information throughout the body. These substances, which are hormones, are released from the cell into the bloodstream and typically move throughout the entire body. The hormones work through many endocrine channels. EDCs have the potential to cause deleterious effects; hence they must be considered relative to hormone synthesis regulation, secretion, as well as actions, and also the regulation of the stated events across the life cycle.1
The Impacts of EDCs on Organisms
The presence of EDCs in the body presents a significant threat to the normal function and development of an organism as they interfere with the naturally secreted hormones; hence regulators should consider endpoints i.e. organs, biomarkers, and processes in efforts to minimize the potential impacts associated with the EDCs.
There is the need to note that the endocrine system is tightly regulated during some stages of life and that any small alterations in the conditions of the hormones, regardless of the extent of such changes, is bound to cause acute and endured effects on the concerned population. Changes to natural functions of hormones i.e. synthesis, secretion, transmission, binding, elimination as well as action could have serious health impacts in an intact organism, its progeny, and subpopulations due to changes in the working of the endocrine system. The fundamental reason as to why EDCs require a different approach regarding investigation and regulation is they cause health risks in organisms since they disrupt or interfere with any system controlled by hormones. Such health impacts are realized when the various endocrine pathways are altered, and they include learning disabilities, impeding the physical development, cognitive problems, and most importantly cause cancers in the modern world.
Besides, regulators should implement a different approach to safety guidelines for EDCs as opposed to other chemicals,2 since such disruptions in hormonal function could alter sexual development leading to feminizing of males and also causing masculine features in females. Furthermore, the EDCs should be subjected to a full investigation regarding safety to organisms as can be particularly critical during pregnancy period as the chemicals can alter the normal development of the fetus. Also, the chemicals are increasingly found in everyday products such as credit cards, children's toys, and also PVC flooring. In efforts to strengthen the need for regulation, the United Nations Environment Program and the World Health Organization released a major report that requires a closer investigation of the connection between EDCs and the many diseases and disorders.
The Principles of Regulating EDCs
The risk assessment agencies should consider several major principles of endocrinology in the process of studying and regulating EDCs. Since natural hormones follow certain biological rules as well as specific pathways, chemicals that mimic or rather block the actions of chemicals should be made to follow the same standards. Regulators should understand that hormones are key determinants of the health and well-being of humans and animals from conception to death, and they control and coordinate the various systems of the body. Virtually, all organs and system in the body depend on the endocrine system for its normal function and development.3 Besides, hundreds of hormones are transmitted throughout the body, and they include sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen), pituitary gland hormones (prolactin, TSH, FSH, LH, etc.), those secreted by the digestive tract and related organs (IGF, ghrelin, glucagon, insulin), and more. The various endpoints of EDCs are shown in the diagram below:
Figure 1: The various EDCs' endpoints
Source: DES Daughter Network (4)
Life-Stage Dependent Effects of Hormones and EDCs
Still, on the concept of regulation of EDCs, it is essential to note that the effects of hormones (as well as the disrupting chemicals) are life-stage dependent.3(p.5) When "activational" exposure to hormones takes place (at adulthood), the body responds by being activated, and once the exposure ends, the impacts cease as well. However, "organizational" exposure (during early development) completely reorganizes the target tissues in the developing embryo or child; hence the chemicals should be regulated and prevented from being exposed to high-risk individuals. In experiments involving the synthesis of EDCs, researchers should include well-informed information to get a clear picture of the associated health and environmental impacts of the endocrine disruptors.
The Disruptive Properties of EDCs
The EDCs possess various disruptive properties that enable them to impose adverse effects on their target organisms. EDCs have the potential to elicit effects at doses that are considerably lower compared to what is typically used in classical toxicology testing.5 Numerous substances, both natural and synthetic, are believed to cause hormonal disruption. Such substances include dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, DDT and other pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and also plasticizers such as bisphenol A. Endocrine disruptors are present in everyday products in the environment such as plastic bottles, detergents, food, toys, cosmetics, and such products. In terms of EDCs metabolism, research has shown that they have the potential to act on multiple sites through different mechanisms of action, with receptor-mediated mechanisms receiving significant attention. Also, hormonal synthesis, transport, and also metabolism have been considered essential mechanisms of action for EDCs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the paper has assessed the various concepts regarding endocrine disrupting chemicals, as well as their associated impacts of organisms. The impacts are increasingly pronounced in infants and pregnant females as organizational exposure could lead to severe impacts in terms of development and function of the various systems of the body. In that light, the regulators of EDCs should consider the associated impacts; hence control all the processes in the synthesis of the disrupting chemicals.
References
Zoeller, R. T., Brown, T. R., Gore, A. C., Skakkebaek, N. E., & Woodruff, T. J. Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Public Health Protection: A Statement of Principles from The Endocrine Society. Endocrinology. 2012. 153 (9): 4097–4110.
Miousse, I. R., Currie, R., Datta, K., Ellinger-Ziegelbauer, H., & French, J. E. Importance of investigating epigenetic alterations for industry and regulators: An appraisal of current efforts by the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute. Toxicology. 2015. 335: 11–19.
Vandenberg, L. N., Colborn, T., Haye, T. B., Heindel, J. J., Jacobs, D. R., Welshons, W. V., et al. Regulatory Decisions on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Should be Based on the Principles of Endocrinology. Reprod Toxicol. 2013. 38: 1–15.
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and My Body. DES Daughter Network: 2016. https://desdaughter.com/2016/12/04/edcs-and-my-body/. Accessed April 8, 2017.
Colborn, T., Vandenberg, L. N., Hayes, T. B., Heindel, J. J., Soto, A. M., Lee, D. H., et al. Hormones and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Low-Dose Effects and Nonmonotonic Dose Responses. Endocrine Reviews. 2012. 333 (3): 378–455.
