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Review
. 2022 Dec;78(3):395-405.
doi: 10.1007/s12020-022-03076-x. Epub 2022 May 23.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals: effects on pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands

Filippo Egalini  1 , Lorenzo Marinelli  2 , Mattia Rossi  2 , Giovanna Motta  2 , Nunzia Prencipe  2 , Ruth Rossetto Giaccherino  2 , Loredana Pagano  2 , Silvia Grottoli  2 , Roberta Giordano  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Endocrine disrupting chemicals: effects on pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands

Filippo Egalini et al. Endocrine. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Background: In recent years, scientific research has increasingly focused on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and demonstrated their relevant role in the functional impairment of endocrine glands. This induced regulatory authorities to ban some of these compounds and to carefully investigate others in order to prevent EDCs-related conditions. As a result, we witnessed a growing awareness and interest on this topic.

Aims: This paper aims to summarize current evidence regarding the detrimental effects of EDCs on pivotal endocrine glands like pituitary, thyroid and adrenal ones. Particularly, we directed our attention on the known and the hypothesized mechanisms of endocrine dysfunction brought by EDCs. We also gave a glimpse on recent findings from pioneering studies that could in the future shed a light on the pathophysiology of well-known, but poorly understood, endocrine diseases like hormone-producing adenomas.

Conclusions: Although intriguing, studies on endocrine dysfunctions brought by EDCs are challenging, in particular when investigating long-term effects of EDCs on humans. However, undoubtedly, it represents a new intriguing field of science research.

Keywords: Adrenal gland; Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Endocrine disruptors; Pituitary gland; Thyroid gland.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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