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Human Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: The Case of Bisphenols

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Endocrine Disrupters

Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Technology Library ((ENST,volume 18))

Summary

Knowledge about human exposure to endocrine disrupters is expanding at a time when we are discovering new chemical compounds that can alter the hormonal balance. As the list of new endocrine disrupters lengthens, we are also identifying exposure pathways and how these substances enter the human organism. The present work is a review of the biological activity of bisphenols and of human exposure to them. Bisphenols are a group of chemical compounds that were initially designed as synthetic oestrogenic hormones and now form a part of innumerable manufactured products, such as epoxy resins and polycarbonates. The oestrogenicity of bisphenols was first documented in 1936, when they were already being used in the formation of synthetic polymers, and bisphenol-F was a base monomer in bakelite. Although bisphenols have been used for all of 90 years, account has only recently been taken of human exposure or potential consequential health risks. It can be affirmed that: i) ‘bisphenols’ is a broad term that includes various compounds that are structurally similar to bisphenol-A and are widely used in the chemical industry; ii) human exposure to bisphenols is a significant, demonstrated and increasing phenomenon; iii) the biological effects of bisphenols are well documented, fundamentally with respect to their oestrogenic activity. However, the causal relationship between endocrine disruption by bisphenols and human disease remains elusive and these uncertainties allow differing conclusions to be drawn. Nevertheless, it is clear that these chemicals are hormonally active, interfere in the homeostasis of the hormonal system, and may thus disrupt the endocrine system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Medical Investigations School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    M. F. Fernandez, A. Rivas, R. Pulgar & N. Olea

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  1. M. F. Fernandez
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  2. A. Rivas
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  3. R. Pulgar
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  4. N. Olea
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School, Department of Pathology, National and Capodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias, Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece

    Polyxeni Nicolopoulou-Stamati (ASPIS Project Co-ordinator) (ASPIS Project Co-ordinator)

  2. Human Ecology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090, Brussel, Belgium

    Luc Hens

  3. Fetal and Infant Toxico-Pathology, University of Liverpool, Mulberry Street, L69 7ZA, Liverpool, UK

    C. V. Howard

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Fernandez, M.F., Rivas, A., Pulgar, R., Olea, N. (2001). Human Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: The Case of Bisphenols. In: Nicolopoulou-Stamati, P., Hens, L., Howard, C.V. (eds) Endocrine Disrupters. Environmental Science and Technology Library, vol 18. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9769-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9769-2_7

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