Table 1.
Endocrine disrupters (EDCs) with documented metabolism-disrupting effects.
| Endocrine disrupters (EDCs) | Description and characteristics |
|---|---|
| PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (POPS) | |
| Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) | A synthetic insecticide with a long half-life, extensive use, and lipophilic nature. The United States banned DDT in 1972 due to its effects on the environment and human health. DDT and its metabolites seem to contribute to the manifestation of endocrine-related diseases, including diabetes mellitus. |
| Dioxins | Dioxins are mainly by-products of industrial processes but can also result from natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires. Their half-life in the body is estimated to be 7 to 11 years. They accumulate in food chain and in the adipose tissue of human body. The most harmful dioxin is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo -p-dioxin (TCDD). |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Man-made synthetic chemical mixtures, widely used in electrical equipment, ink solvents and especially plasticizers until the late 1970s, after which time they were banned. Their use has been associated with the obesity epidemic. |
| Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) | PFCs have been detected in food packaging, furniture, clothes, cookware, and non-stick surfaces in order to repel grease and oil. They have been linked with obesity and adipose tissue dysfunction. |
| Polybrominated flame retardants | They have been used in a variety of materials, such as furniture, electronics, and construction materials, as flame retardants. Via accumulating in the environment and human fat tissue, these man-made chemicals have been linked with adverse health outcomes, including obesity. |
| NON-PERSISTENT EDCS | |
| Bishenol A (BPA) | A synthetic organic compound, mainly used as plasticizer, is commonly detected in water bottles, food containers, and metal-based cans. The magnitude of human exposure to this EDC is depicted to the observation that ~93% of Americans have measurable urine levels of BPA. It is characterized by a rapid metabolization to its non-bioactive forms and a short half-life (4–5 h in adult humans). |
| Phthalates | Pthalates have been widely used in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride plastics and vinyl products. As a result, they have been detected in multiple household products, including pacifiers, children's toys, food packaging, medical devices, and furnishings. Animal models have displayed a close interrelationship between phthalates and metabolic disease. |
| Tributyltin | An organotin commonly used as a heat stabilizer and as fungicide. It can also be found in house dust. Although data on human exposures are scarce, it has been detected in human liver and blood. |