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Esposito G, Parazzini F, Chatenoud L, Santucci C, La Vecchia C, Negri E. Parents' age and total fertility rate in selected high-income countries from Europe and North America, 1990-2020. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 299:32-36. [PMID: 38824811 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive picture of trends in parents' age and total fertility rate in selected most populous high-income countries from Europe and North America. STUDY DESIGN Data were retrieved from official statistics published by the United Nations, the World Bank, the European Union (EU), and by national health statistics offices. RESULTS Mean maternal age at birth showed increasing trends in all considered countries; in 2020, the highest mean age was observed in Italy (32.2) and Spain (32.3), and the lowest one in the USA (28.8). Mean maternal age at first birth also showed upward trends. In the 1990s, mean age at first birth ranged from 25.5 to 26.9 years, except for the USA where it was below 25 years. The countries with the highest average maternal age at first birth were Italy and Spain, reaching 31 years over the most recent years. Data on mean paternal age at birth were scant. In Germany (2019) it was 34.6 and in the USA (2014) 27.9 years. In Italy, mean paternal age increased from 34.2 in 2000 to 35.5 in 2018, in the UK from 30.7 in 1990 to 33.4 in 2017, and in Canada, a decrease was observed from 29.1 in 2006 to 28.3 in 2011. Finally, Sweden and the USA had the highest fertility rates, around two children in some years, while Italy and Spain had the lowest ones, with less than 1.5 children over the whole period. CONCLUSIONS Monitoring of trends in reproductive factors is crucial to gain insight into society from a cultural and sociological point of view and to analyze the impact of these changes on reproductive health and related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Esposito
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Fabio Parazzini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Santucci
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo La Vecchia
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Eva Negri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Yu H, Yang J, Zhang Y, Fu H, Yan Z, Zhu Y. Vinclozolin-induced mouse penile malformation and "small testis" via miR132, miR195a together with the Hippo signaling pathway. Toxicology 2021; 460:152842. [PMID: 34182078 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Vinclozolin (VCZ) is a fungicide with antiandrogen activity. Exposure to VCZ in maternal uterus may cause uterine, ovarian and testicular damage, hypospadias and prostate abnormality in the offspring. Hippo pathway, which is highly conservative and may be activated by miR132 and miR195a, can control organ size and tissue regeneration, and participate in injury and deformity. In the present study, VCZ was found to have caused penile malformation in the male offspring and also induced "small testis" when it was administered to the pregnant mice orally at a dose of 400 mg kg-1 day-1 on Days 12-18 of gestation. At 1, 3 and 7 weeks of age, VCZ could increase miR132, Mst1, Sav1, phosphorylated Yes-associated protein (pYap) and pLats, and decrease Yap in offspring penises and testes. Besides, it could also raise miR195a both in the testes of 1, 7-week and in the penises of all the three ages. In addition, we found the levels of some cyclin (Ccn) genes elevated in the testes, the expression of the androgen receptor (Ar) gene dereased and Jnks changed in the penises of offspring aged 1, 3 and 7 weeks. The results suggest that that gestational VCZ exposure could not only increase miR132 and miR195a in penises and testes of the offspring, but also activate Hippo pathway and down-regulate Ar. These may directly inhibit cell proliferation, accelerate cell death by up-regulating the expression of some Ccns, and ultimately lead to penile and testicular damage and malformations in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiming Yu
- Department of Critical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (The People's Hospital of Hunan Province), Changsha, 410002, PR China
| | - Jinru Yang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical School, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, PR China; Department of Sanitation Monitoring, Hanzhong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hanzhong City, 723000, PR China
| | - Yujing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical School, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, PR China
| | - Hu Fu
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical School, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, PR China
| | - Zhengli Yan
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical School, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, PR China
| | - Yongfei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Medical School, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, PR China.
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Endocrine disrupting chemicals in the pathogenesis of hypospadias; developmental and toxicological perspectives. Curr Res Toxicol 2021; 2:179-191. [PMID: 34345859 PMCID: PMC8320613 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Penis development is regulated by a tight balance of androgens and estrogens. EDCs that impact androgen/estrogen balance during development cause hypospadias. Cross-disciplinary collaborations are needed to define a mechanistic link.
Hypospadias is a defect in penile urethral closure that occurs in approximately 1/150 live male births in developed nations, making it one of the most common congenital abnormalities worldwide. Alarmingly, the frequency of hypospadias has increased rapidly over recent decades and is continuing to rise. Recent research reviewed herein suggests that the rise in hypospadias rates can be directly linked to our increasing exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), especially those that affect estrogen and androgen signalling. Understanding the mechanistic links between endocrine disruptors and hypospadias requires toxicologists and developmental biologists to define exposures and biological impacts on penis development. In this review we examine recent insights from toxicological, developmental and epidemiological studies on the hormonal control of normal penis development and describe the rationale and evidence for EDC exposures that impact these pathways to cause hypospadias. Continued collaboration across these fields is imperative to understand the full impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the increasing rates of hypospadias.
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Key Words
- Androgen
- BBP, benzyl butyl phthalate
- BPA, bisphenol A
- DBP, Σdibutyl phthalate
- DDT, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
- DEHP, Σdi-2(ethylhexyl)-phthalate
- DHT, dihydrotestosterone
- EDC, endocrine disrupting chemicals
- EMT, epithelial to mesenchymal transition
- ER, estrogen receptor
- Endocrine disruptors
- Estrogen
- GT, genital tubercle
- Hypospadias
- NOAEL, no observed adverse effect level
- PBB, polybrominated biphenyl
- PBDE, polybrominated diphenyl ether
- PCB, polychlorinated biphenyl
- PCE, tetrachloroethylene
- Penis
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Autrup H, Barile FA, Berry SC, Blaauboer BJ, Boobis A, Bolt H, Borgert CJ, Dekant W, Dietrich D, Domingo JL, Gori GB, Greim H, Hengstler J, Kacew S, Marquardt H, Pelkonen O, Savolainen K, Heslop-Harrison P, Vermeulen NP. Human exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) is generally negligible as compared to natural compounds with higher or comparable endocrine activity. How to evaluate the risk of the S-EDCs? Toxicol Lett 2020; 331:259-264. [PMID: 32360654 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Herman Autrup
- Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Frank A Barile
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY, USA
| | | | - Bas J Blaauboer
- Division of Toxicology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Alan Boobis
- National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Herrmann Bolt
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Wolfgang Dekant
- Department of Toxicology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Dietrich
- Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jose L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat 'Rovira i Virgili', Reus, Spain
| | | | - Helmut Greim
- Technical University of Munich, Hohenbachernstrasse 15-17, D-85350, Freising, Weihenstephan, Germany.
| | - Jan Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sam Kacew
- McLaughlin Centre for Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Olavi Pelkonen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Kai Savolainen
- Nanosafety Research Centre, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pat Heslop-Harrison
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Nico P Vermeulen
- Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Ballardini E, Armaroli A, Finessi N, Maietti E, Astolfi G, Neville AJ. Hypospadias prevalence in the Emilia Romagna Region registry: Increasing or methodology? J Pediatr Urol 2020; 16:448.e1-448.e7. [PMID: 32653308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2020.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital anomalies in male infants, defined as incomplete development of the urethra. Despite the wealth of literature, there are conflicting data on the values and trends of prevalence, due to multifactorial origin but often also to methodological differences between studies. The aim of this study was to analyse prevalence, trends and risk factors of hypospadias in the Emilia Romagna Region, Italy. MATERIAL AND METHODS The Emilia-Romagna Registry (IMER) is a population-based congenital anomaly database covering the first year of life, active since 1978. IMER uses multi-source ascertainment, including hospital discharge records (SDO) from 2009, through a validated algorithm. From 2014, IMER changed the algorithm, and included all hypospadias identified in SDO, and not only those confirmed by surgery. All cases identified in the IMER database, coded 7526.01-7526.09 or Q54.0-Q54.9 in 2010-2016, were analysed. RESULT AND DISCUSSION A total of 604 hypospadias cases were registered among 267,285 births; 526 were isolated, giving a prevalence of 2 per 1000. An increase from 1.6 in 2010 to 2.9 in 2016 was seen. The comparison between consecutive years was not significant neither from 2010 to 2013 nor in the period 2014-2016. There was instead a significant difference between the two periods, suggesting that the ascertainment change in 2014 is probably responsible for the increase. In the last three years analysed, isolated hypospadias prevalence is 2.5 per 1000. In the study period, mother's age over 39 years, multiple birth, preterm birth, small for gestational age, Caucasian compared with Asiatic or Africans were statistically associated with higher hypospadias prevalence. There was no association neither between hypospadias and paternal age nor maternal body mass index or assisted reproductive technology. CONCLUSION Whilst hypospadias prevalence trend is debated in the literature, in IMER it seems to be stable, with methodological changes affecting the trends. Risk factors potentially involved in developing hypospadias are environment and population characteristics, so understanding and monitoring hypospadias prevalence remains important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ballardini
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Paediatric Section, IMER Registry (Emilia Romagna Registry of Birth Defects), Dep. of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Annarita Armaroli
- IMER Registry (Emilia Romagna Registry of Birth Defects), Centre for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, University of Ferrara
| | - Nicola Finessi
- Paediatric Section, Dep. of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisa Maietti
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianni Astolfi
- IMER Registry (Emilia Romagna Registry of Birth Defects), Centre for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, University of Ferrara
| | - Amanda J Neville
- IMER Registry (Emilia Romagna Registry of Birth Defects), Centre for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, University of Ferrara
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Autrup H, Barile FA, Berry SC, Blaauboer BJ, Boobis A, Bolt H, Borgert CJ, Dekant W, Dietrich D, Domingo JL, Gori GB, Greim H, Hengstler J, Kacew S, Marquardt H, Pelkonen O, Savolainen K, Heslop-Harrison P, Vermeulen NP. Human exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) is generally negligible as compared to natural compounds with higher or comparable endocrine activity. How to evaluate the risk of the S-EDCs? ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2020; 78:103396. [PMID: 32391796 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Theoretically, both synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) and natural (exogenous and endogenous) endocrine disrupting chemicals (N-EDCs) can interact with endocrine receptors and disturb hormonal balance. However, compared to endogenous hormones, S-EDCs are only weak partial agonists with receptor affinities several orders of magnitude lower. Thus, to elicit observable effects, S-EDCs require considerably higher concentrations to attain sufficient receptor occupancy or to displace natural hormones and other endogenous ligands. Significant exposures to exogenous N-EDCs may result from ingestion of foods such as soy-based diets, green tea and sweet mustard. While their potencies are lower as compared to natural endogenous hormones, they usually are considerably more potent. Effects of exogenous N-EDCs on the endocrine system were observed at high dietary intakes. A causal relation between their mechanism of action and these effects is established and biologically plausible. In contrast, the assumption that the much lower human exposures to S-EDCs may induce observable endocrine effects is not plausible. Hence, it is not surprising that epidemiological studies searching for an association between S-EDC exposure and health effects have failed. Regarding testing for potential endocrine effects, a scientifically justified screen should use in vitro tests to compare potencies of S-EDCs with those of reference N-EDCs. When the potency of the S-EDC is similar or smaller than that of the N-EDC, further testing in laboratory animals and regulatory consequences are not warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herman Autrup
- Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Frank A Barile
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, New York, USA
| | | | - Bas J Blaauboer
- Division of Toxicology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Boobis
- National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Herrmann Bolt
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Wolfgang Dekant
- Department of Toxicology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Daniel Dietrich
- Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jose L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat 'Rovira i Virgili', Reus, Spain
| | | | - Helmut Greim
- Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Jan Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sam Kacew
- McLaughlin Centre for Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Olavi Pelkonen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Kai Savolainen
- Nanosafety Research Centre, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pat Heslop-Harrison
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Nico P Vermeulen
- Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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7
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Autrup H, Barile FA, Berry SC, Blaauboer BJ, Boobis A, Bolt H, Hengstler J, Borgert CJ, Dekant W, Dietrich D, Domingo JL, Gori GB, Greim H, Kacew S, Marquardt H, Pelkonen O, Savolainen K, Heslop-Harrison P, Vermeulen NP. Human exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) is generally negligible as compared to natural compounds with higher or comparable endocrine activity. How to evaluate the risk of the S-EDCs? Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 142:111349. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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8
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Autrup H, Barile FA, Berry SC, Blaauboer BJ, Boobis A, Bolt H, Borgert CJ, Dekant W, Dietrich D, Domingo JL, Gori GB, Greim H, Hengstler J, Kacew S, Marquardt H, Pelkonen O, Savolainen K, Heslop-Harrison P, Vermeulen NP. Human exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) is generally negligible as compared to natural compounds with higher or comparable endocrine activity. How to evaluate the risk of the S-EDCs? Chem Biol Interact 2020; 326:109099. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2020.109099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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9
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Autrup H, Barile FA, Berry SC, Blaauboer BJ, Boobis A, Bolt H, Borgert CJ, Dekant W, Dietrich D, Domingo JL, Gori GB, Greim H, Hengstler J, Kacew S, Marquardt H, Pelkonen O, Savolainen K, Heslop-Harrison P, Vermeulen NP. Human exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) is generally negligible as compared to natural compounds with higher or comparable endocrine activity. How to evaluate the risk of the S-EDCs? JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2020; 83:485-494. [PMID: 32552445 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2020.1756592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Theoretically, both synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) and natural (exogenous and endogenous) endocrine-disrupting chemicals (N-EDCs) can interact with endocrine receptors and disturb hormonal balance. However, compared to endogenous hormones, S-EDCs are only weak partial agonists with receptor affinities several orders of magnitude lower than S-EDCs. Thus, to elicit observable effects, S-EDCs require considerably higher concentrations to attain sufficient receptor occupancy or to displace natural hormones and other endogenous ligands. Significant exposures to exogenous N-EDCs may result from ingestion of foods such as soy-based diets, green tea, and sweet mustard. While their potencies are lower as compared to natural endogenous hormones, they usually are considerably more potent than S-EDCs. Effects of exogenous N-EDCs on the endocrine system were observed at high dietary intakes. A causal relation between their mechanism of action and these effects is established and biologically plausible. In contrast, the assumption that the much lower human exposures to S-EDCs may induce observable endocrine effects is not plausible. Hence, it is not surprising that epidemiological studies searching for an association between S-EDC exposure and health effects have failed. Regarding testing for potential endocrine effects, a scientifically justified screen should use in vitro tests to compare potencies of S-EDCs with those of reference N-EDCs. When the potency of the S-EDC is similar or smaller than that of the N-EDC, further testing in laboratory animals and regulatory consequences are not warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herman Autrup
- Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus , Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Frank A Barile
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St John's University , Queens, USA
| | | | - Bas J Blaauboer
- Division of Toxicology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Boobis
- National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College , London, UK
| | - Herrmann Bolt
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (Ifado), TU Dortmund , Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Wolfgang Dekant
- Department of Toxicology, University of Wuerzburg , Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Dietrich
- Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jose L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat 'Rovira I Virgili' , Reus, Spain
| | | | - Helmut Greim
- Technical University of Munich D-85350, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Jan Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (Ifado), TU Dortmund , Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sam Kacew
- McLaughlin Centre for Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Olavi Pelkonen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu , Finland
| | - Kai Savolainen
- Nanosafety Research Centre, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pat Heslop-Harrison
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK
| | - Nico P Vermeulen
- Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Human exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) is generally negligible as compared to natural compounds with higher or comparable endocrine activity: how to evaluate the risk of the S-EDCs? Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:2549-2557. [PMID: 32514609 PMCID: PMC7367909 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02800-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Theoretically, both synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) and natural (exogenous and endogenous) endocrine disrupting chemicals (N-EDCs) can interact with endocrine receptors and disturb hormonal balance. However, compared to endogenous hormones, S-EDCs are only weak partial agonists with receptor affinities several orders of magnitude lower. Thus, to elicit observable effects, S-EDCs require considerably higher concentrations to attain sufficient receptor occupancy or to displace natural hormones and other endogenous ligands. Significant exposures to exogenous N-EDCs may result from ingestion of foods such as soy-based diets, green tea and sweet mustard. While their potencies are lower as compared to natural endogenous hormones, they usually are considerably more potent than S-EDCs. Effects of exogenous N-EDCs on the endocrine system were observed at high dietary intakes. A causal relation between their mechanism of action and these effects is established and biologically plausible. In contrast, the assumption that the much lower human exposures to S-EDCs may induce observable endocrine effects is not plausible. Hence, it is not surprising that epidemiological studies searching for an association between S-EDC exposure and health effects have failed. Regarding testing for potential endocrine effects, a scientifically justified screen should use in vitro tests to compare potencies of S-EDCs with those of reference N-EDCs. When the potency of the S-EDC is similar or smaller than that of the N-EDC, further testing in laboratory animals and regulatory consequences are not warranted.
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Human exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) is generally negligible as compared to natural compounds with higher or comparable endocrine activity. How to evaluate the risk of the S-EDCs? Toxicol In Vitro 2020; 67:104861. [PMID: 32360643 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Theoretically, both synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (S-EDCs) and natural (exogenous and endogenous) endocrine disrupting chemicals (N-EDCs) can interact with endocrine receptors and disturb hormonal balance. However, compared to endogenous hormones, S-EDCs are only weak partial agonists with receptor affinities several orders of magnitude lower. Thus, to elicit observable effects, S-EDCs require considerably higher concentrations to attain sufficient receptor occupancy or to displace natural hormones and other endogenous ligands. Significant exposures to exogenous N-EDCs may result from ingestion of foods such as soy-based diets, green tea and sweet mustard. While their potencies are lower as compared to natural endogenous hormones, they usually are considerably more potent than S-EDCs. Effects of exogenous N-EDCs on the endocrine system were observed at high dietary intakes. A causal relation between their mechanism of action and these effects is established and biologically plausible. In contrast, the assumption that the much lower human exposures to S-EDCs may induce observable endocrine effects is not plausible. Hence, it is not surprising that epidemiological studies searching for an association between S-EDC exposure and health effects have failed. Regarding testing for potential endocrine effects, a scientifically justified screen should use in vitro tests to compare potencies of S-EDCs with those of reference N-EDCs. When the potency of the S-EDC is similar or smaller than that of the N-EDC, further testing in laboratory animals and regulatory consequences are not warranted.
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