Endocrine disruptors: General characteristics, chemical nature and mechanisms of action. A review.

Over recent decades, different types of industrially manufactured chemicals have become widespread environmental contaminants with potential to interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding or elimination of natural hormones in the body. These chemical substances were named endocrine disruptors (EDs). The main route of exposure to EDs is the ingestion of contaminated food and water. EDs are very dangerous, because they have long half-life, stay present in the environment for years and may concentrate at great distances from the site where were produced. The group of EDs is heterogeneous and contains industrial lubricants, solvents, plastics, plasticizers, pesticides, fungicides, drugs, but also natural chemicals. The mechanisms of EDs action are difficult to predict, many substances act by interfering with the estrogen receptors (ER), androgen receptor (AR), thyroid receptors (TRs) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), but they can also influence hormone synthesis or can have effect on epigenetic mechanisms. Further research is necessary to improve knowledge about EDs and their metabolites, and to identify endocrine-disruptive potential of chemicals, those replacing current EDs before they are widely distributed.