Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Part of Lifestyle Factors Related to Growth Disorders in Childhood and Chronic Diseases in Adulthood Publisher



Hemati Z¹ ; Heidaribeni M² ; Kelishadi R¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Integrated Science Published:2022

Abstract

Lifestyle factors are of major determinants of environmental exposures. Endocrine signaling pathways can be disrupted by environmental chemicals. Endocrine function is established in early life and any endocrine disorders with adverse consequences can develop later in life. Evidence has shown that endocrine disrupting chemicalsEndocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with hormone like activity have adverse health consequences in both genders. EDCs may act as obesogens and affect appetite, weight and energy balance, regulation of metabolism as well as the development of adipose tissue. In addition, EDCs may interfere in pubertal development, time of puberty and influence on pubertal height growthHeight growth. It is documented that exposure to EDCs is associated with short femur length. One of the phenotypes of overweight and obesityObesity is elevated body mass index with normal weight in presence of short stature. This type of excess weightExcess weight can be considered as one of the health concern for the pediatric age group. EDCs can disturb the normal function of estrogen receptors and endogenous androgen action. They change transcription and release of growth hormone, insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration, and in turn they would affect the normal growth of height and weight. Such growth disordersGrowth disorders might have long-term impact on the development of chronic diseases in adulthood. Understanding the effect of EDCs on hormone functions and growth development can be important for primordial prevention of non-communicable diseasesNon-communicable diseases related to obesityObesity. Following a healthy lifestyle can reduce the exposure to EDCs and their adverse effects. This chapter aims to summarize the current literature on the effect of EDCs on excess weightExcess weight related to short stature and growth hormone. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.