Endocrine Abstracts

The main achievement at present, on Endocrine-Disruptors (EDCs) effects on human health and disease development, is that it becomes a less <<of a foreign language>> issue. The widespread distribution of environmental chemicals in the atmosphere and the detection of these substances within human body, converge to the concept that humans are continually exposed to EDCs. This presentation will focus on the possible role of the most common and studied environmental toxins in female reproductive disorders and especially in PCOS. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as plasticizers, bisphenol A (BPA) or phthalates, and food toxins like advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which may affect women’s health in everyday, industrialized life, will be discussed. Acute or prolonged exposure to EDCs and AGEs may result in destabilization of the hormonal and metabolic homeostasis and lead to disruption of reproductive functions in females. Strategies and strong recommendations should be considered to protect present and future generations from their adverse health effects. Understandably, Rachel Carson, said in an international language: ‘In nature nothing exists alone.’