Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment

Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment

A concise and engaging overview of endocrine disruption phenomena that brings complex concepts within the reach of non-specialists

For most of the last decade, the science of endocrine disruption has evolved with more definitive evidence of its damaging potential to health and environment. This book lists the major environmental chemicals of concern and their mechanism of endocrine disruption including remedial measures for them.

Divided into three parts, Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment begins with an overview of the endocrine system and endocrine disruptors, discussing their salient features and presenting a historical perspective of endocrine disruption phenomena. It then goes on to cover hormone- signaling mechanisms, followed by various broad classes of putative endocrine disruptors, before introducing readers to environmental epigenetic modifications. Part two of the book focuses on removal processes of various EDCs by biotic and abiotic transformation/degradation. The last section consists of four chapters embracing themes on finding solutions to environmental EDCs--including their detection, regulation, replacement, and remediation.

Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment is the first book to detail the endocrine effects of several known environmental contaminants and their mechanism of endocrine disruption. Additionally, it:

• Covers both the chemistry and biology of endocrine disruption and compiles almost all the known endocrine disrupting environmental chemicals and their mechanisms of toxicity

• Addresses policy and regulatory issues relevant to EDCs including scientific uncertainty and precautionary policy

• Brings forth the use of Green Chemistry principles in avoiding endocrine disruption in the designing and screening for safer chemicals and remediation of the EDCs in aquatic environment

• Includes a useful glossary of technical terms, a list of acronyms, topical references, and a subject index

Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment is an ideal book for environmental chemists and endocrine toxicologists, developmental biologists, endocrinologists, epidemiologists, environmental health scientists and advocates, and regulatory officials tasked with risk assessment in environment and health areas.

Autorentext

SUSHIL K. KHETAN, PhD, a research chemist at the Institute for Green Science in Carnegie Mellon University, has been working at the confluence of environmental and green chemistry. Earlier he worked in the agrochemicals industry and published two books on environmentally-friendly pest control technologies. He has consulted globally for several international organizations.

Zusammenfassung
Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment A concise and engaging overview of endocrine disruption phenomena that brings complex concepts within the reach of non-specialists For most of the last decade, the science of endocrine disruption has evolved with more definitive evidence of its damaging potential to health and environment. This book lists the major environmental chemicals of concern and their mechanism of endocrine disruption including remedial measures for them. Divided into three parts, Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment begins with an overview of the endocrine system and endocrine disruptors, discussing their salient features and presenting a historical perspective of endocrine disruption phenomena. It then goes on to cover hormone- signaling mechanisms, followed by various broad classes of putative endocrine disruptors, before introducing readers to environmental epigenetic modifications. Part two of the book focuses on removal processes of various EDCs by biotic and abiotic transformation/degradation. The last section consists of four chapters embracing themes on finding solutions to environmental EDCsincluding their detection, regulation, replacement, and remediation. Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment is the first book to detail the endocrine effects of several known environmental contaminants and their mechanism of endocrine disruption. Additionally, it:

• Covers both the chemistry and biology of endocrine disruption and compiles almost all the known endocrine disrupting environmental chemicals and their mechanisms of toxicity
• Addresses policy and regulatory issues relevant to EDCs including scientific uncertainty and precautionary policy
• Brings forth the use of Green Chemistry principles in avoiding endocrine disruption in the designing and screening for safer chemicals and remediation of the EDCs in aquatic environment
• Includes a useful glossary of technical terms, a list of acronyms, topical references, and a subject index Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment is an ideal book for environmental chemists and endocrine toxicologists, developmental biologists, endocrinologists, epidemiologists, environmental health scientists and advocates, and regulatory officials tasked with risk assessment in environment and health areas.

Inhalt
Foreword xiv

Preface xviii

Acronyms xxi

Glossary xxvi

1 Environmental Endocrine Disruptors 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.1.1 The Endocrine System 1

1.1.2 Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) 3

1.1.3 Sources of EDCs in the Environment 4

1.1.4 Deleterious Effects of EDCs on Wildlife and on Humans 6

1.1.5 Endocrine Disruption Endpoints 6

1.2 Salient Aspects about Endocrine Disruption 7

1.2.1 Low-Dose Effects and Nonmonotonic Dose Responses 7

1.2.2 Exposures during Periods of Heightened Susceptibility in Critical Life Stages 9

1.2.3 Delayed Dysfunction 11

1.2.4 Importance of Mixtures 11

1.2.5 Transgenerational Epigenetic Effects 12

1.3 Historical Perspective of Endocrine Disruption 12

1.4 Scope and Layout of this Book 19

1.5 Conclusion 20

References 21

Part I Mechanisms Of Hormonal Action And Putative Endocrine Disruptors 27

2 Mechanisms of Endocrine System Function 29

2.1 Introduction 29

2.2 Hormonal Axes 29

2.2.1 HypothalamusPituitaryGonad (HPG) Axis 31

2.2.2 The HypothalamicPituitaryThyroid (HPT) Axis 33

2.2.3 The HypothalamicPituitaryAdrenal (HPA) Axis 34

2.3 Hormonal Cell Signaling 35

2.3.1 Receptors and Hormone Action 35

2.3.2 Genomic Signaling Pathway 36

2.3.3 Rapid-Response Pathway (Nongenomic Signaling) 38

2.3.4 Receptor Agonists Partial Agonists and Antagonists 40

2.4 Sex Steroids 41

2.4.1 Physiologic Estrogens 41

2.4.2 Androgens 43

2.5 Thyroid Hormones 45

2.6 Conclusions and Future Prospects 46

References 47

3 Environmental Chemicals Targeting Estrogen Signaling Pathways 51

3.1 Introduction 51

3.1.1 Gonadal Estrogen Function Disruptors 52

3.2 Steroidal Estrogens 54

3.2.1 Physiologic Estrogens 55

3.2.2 17-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) 55

3.2.3 Phytoestrogens 57

3.2.4 Mycoestrogen Zearalenone (ZEN) 59

3.3 Nonsteroidal Estrogenic Chemicals 60

3.3.1 Diethylstilbestrol (DES) 60

3.3.2 Organochlorine Insecticides 62

3.3.3 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 65

3.3.4 Alkyphenols 65

3.3.5 Parabens (Hydroxy Benzoates) 73

3.3.6 Sun Screens (Chemical UV Filters) 74

3.4 Metalloestrogens 75

3.4.1 Cadmium (Cd) 76

3.4.2 Lead (Pb) 76

3.4.3 Mercury (Hg) 77

3.4.4 Arsenic (As) 77

3.5 Conclusion and Future Prospects 78

References 78

4 Anti-Androgenic Chemicals 91

4.1 Introduction 91

4.2 Testosterone Synthesis Inhibitors 92

4.2.1 Phthalates 92

4.3 Androgen Receptor (AR) Antagonists 96

4.3.1 Organochlorine (OC) Pesticides 96

4.3.2 Organophosphorus (OP) Insecticides 98

4.3.3 Bisphenol A (BPA) 99

4.3.4 Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) 99

4.3.5 Vinclozolin (VZ) 100

4.3.6 Procymidone 101

4.4 AR Antagonists and Fetal Testosterone Synthesis Inhibitors 102

4.4.1 Prochloraz 102

4.4.2 Linuron 103

4.5 Comparative Anti…