Endocrine disruptors and environmental origins of diseases: Integrating data for a new model of environmental health patient support

Abstract

Environmental diseases are increasing globally and the sources of contamination are multiple: indoor and outdoor air, food, cosmetics, drinking and irrigation water.Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are among the causes of the increasing presence of chronic diseases. There are periods of vulnerability—in particular during pregnancy, childhood, and puberty—when these substances can modify the functioning and establishment of major functions such as brain development, the various endocrine systems, the gonads, and the regulation of fatty tissue.Recent studies show the general population's widespread exposure to endocrine disruptors, either persistent (accumulating over time) or non-persistent (but with permanent exposure). However, the consideration of EDCs in clinical practice remains marginal, even though doing so could reduce the risk of diseases linked to environmental factors and positively influence the natural evolution of a chronic disease when it is diagnosed. The aim of this article is to clarify the concepts associated with the exposome and to list the main scientific data attesting to the effects of endocrine disruptors on health in order to draw up clinical, teaching, and research perspectives.