Endocrine Disruptors and Infertility

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) are known to interfere the body’s endocrine system. EDCs can also be considered as industrial chemicals namely pesticides, cleaning materials, plastics, heavy metals, and cosmetics. Most of these compounds particularly at low doses, occurring in complex mixtures, have been reported as emerging contaminants. EDCs are currently present in environment (water, diet, food contact materials, personal care products, etc). The adverse effects of exposure to EDCs have already been extensively described such as infertility, cancers, disrupted thyroid function, neurological disorders, obesity, metabolic syndrome. EDCs may be blamed for increasing the human reproductive disorders especially infertility. This is a serious public health problem that should not be ignored. This chapter aims to summarize the major scientific advances in human infertility associated with exposure to EDCs with epidemiological and experimental evidence. The chemicals covered in this chapter are heavy metals (lead), pesticides (pyrethroids), and cosmetics (UV filters).